Woman warns after recently bought extension cord blows fuses and smells burnt

A Latvian resident has posted photos on social media of a damaged extension cord, warning others about a potential hazard. According to her post, the extension cord, bought at the “Rimi” store a couple of months earlier, suddenly blew the home's fuses with a bang when moved, and began smelling burnt. The photos show a dark, burn-like mark where the electrical cable enters the device's casing. The woman says she cannot say exactly what caused the damage but stresses that a cord showing such signs should no longer be used. She notes she no longer has the purchase receipt, and recalls a case where a house burned down after a newly bought extension cord had recently been used there, while clarifying that it cannot be confirmed the cord actually caused that fire.

Warning signs to watch for

The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) reminds the public that a damaged electrical device should not keep being used even if the fault seems minor. Serious warning signs include a burning or overheated-plastic smell, sparks, smoke, dark or brown burn marks, melted plastic, a cracked or worn cable, and unexplained tripping of fuses or circuit breakers. If such signs appear, the device should be unplugged; if a fire starts, a device still connected to power must never be extinguished with water — instead, emergency services should be called at 112.

Avoiding overload

Latvia's Consumer Rights Protection Centre advises checking, when buying an electrical product, that it lists the manufacturer, CE marking, and comes with instructions in Latvian. VUGD also warns against chaining extension cords together, against leaving cable wound on a reel under heavy load, and against using regular indoor extension cords in wet areas or outdoors. In the reported case, several serious warning signs appeared at once, so the device should no longer be plugged in and should instead be checked by a specialist.