Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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It started like any normal evening. A family had just finished dinner. The father sat down to catch up on emails, the mother was preparing for the next day, and the kids were watching cartoons. To keep the room cozy, the father plugged in a space heater. At the same time, he charged his phone, ran his laptop, and left the electric kettle on standby—all connected to the same power strip sitting quietly in the corner of the room. It seemed harmless. After all, it's something many of us do without thinking. But what they didn’t realize was that the extension cord, old and uncertified, wasn’t built to handle such a heavy load.

A few hours later, while everyone was fast asleep, trouble began. The plastic casing of the overloaded power strip started to melt. The wires inside overheated silently, sparking a short circuit. Within minutes, flames ignited. The corner of the living room burst into fire, spreading quickly to the curtains and nearby furniture. There was no explosion, no loud warning—just smoke, fire, and panic.

Thankfully, a neighbor who was still awake noticed the smoke and called emergency services. Firefighters arrived in time to prevent the flames from reaching the bedrooms. The family survived—but they lost furniture, electronics, and cherished family items. What hurt most wasn’t just the financial loss, but the deep emotional impact. The place they once called home now smelled of ash and fear. All of it started from one simple mistake: overloading a cheap or worn-out extension cord—something many households unknowingly do every single day.

Sadly, these kinds of fires are far more common than we think. Each year, thousands of homes around the world face similar tragedies—caused not by natural disasters, but by small, preventable electrical mistakes. That’s why awareness matters.

What Can You Do to Prevent This?

• Never plug high-wattage appliances like space heaters, irons, or microwaves into extension cords.

• Avoid plugging too many devices into a single strip—even if they appear harmless.

• Always inspect cords for damage, discoloration, or overheating.

• Use certified extension cords with built-in safety features like surge protection.

• Unplug unused appliances, especially overnight or when you leave the house.

The photo above is a strong reminder: even something as ordinary as a melted plug can be the beginning of disaster. We can’t afford to treat electrical safety lightly. Talk to your family, check your home, and make the small changes today that can save lives tomorrow.