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Electrical Safety

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Electrical Failures Spark Fires As Massive Minifridge Recall Expands Electrical Failures Spark Fires As Massive Minifridge Recall Expands
Electrical Failures Spark Fires As Massive Minifridge Recall Expands Hundreds of thousands of Frigidaire-brand minifridges are being recalled after several caught fire, officials said. Curtis International issued the recall for about 330,000 Frigidaire-brand six-can minifridges, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, Jan. 15. The Canadian company previously recalled about 634,000 similar minifridges in July 2024. Internal electrical components can short-circuit and ignite the surrounding plastic housing, creating fire and burn hazards. At least six fires caused property damage, although no injuries have been reporte…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
That's Too Hot: Paris Hilton Mini Fridges Catch Fire, Sparking Major Recall That's Too Hot: Paris Hilton Mini Fridges Catch Fire, Sparking Major Recall
That's Too Hot: Paris Hilton Mini Fridges Catch Fire, Sparking Major Recall Socialite Paris Hilton's mini fridges have taken her catchphrase of "That's hot" too literally. Epoca International is recalling about 110,000 Paris Hilton Mini Beauty Fridges, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, Sept. 12. The agency said the mini fridges' electrical switch can short-circuit, posing a fire and burn hazard. There have been at least 27 reports of fridges overheating and catching fire, according to the CPSC. No injuries were reported, though some incidents caused property damage to the unit and nearby surfaces. The recall covers f…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
150+ Fire Reports Spark Major Recall Of 2.9M Attic Fan Motors 150+ Fire Reports Spark Major Recall Of 2.9M Attic Fan Motors
150+ Fire Reports Spark Major Recall Of 2.9M Attic Fan Motors Nearly three million attic fan motors sold nationwide are being recalled after more than 150 reports of fires. Air Vent Inc. issued the recall for about 2.9 million electric motors used in gable- and roof-mounted attic fans, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, Aug. 28. The recall covers five different model numbers listed on the CPSC's website. According to the recall notice, the motors' safety cutoff can fail, creating a risk of short circuit and fire. Air Vent has received 159 incident reports involving burning or fire, though no injuries have been repo…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Livestreamer Shocked By Lightning While Gaming: Why Plugged-In Devices Are Risky During Storms Livestreamer Shocked By Lightning While Gaming: Why Plugged-In Devices Are Risky During Storms
Livestreamer Shocked By Lightning While Gaming: Why Plugged-In Devices Are Risky During Storms A gamer’s electrifying livestream took a terrifying turn when a lightning bolt struck outside his home, sending a surge through his plugged-in headset and shocking viewers, and himself. The incident happened around 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Chrispymate, as he’s known online, was broadcasting live on Twitch when the screen suddenly flashed white and a deafening crack filled the audio.  In the video, shown here in this AccuWeather report, Chrispymate leaps from his chair, rips off his headphones, and bolts off camera. “Bro, I just got struck by …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Mini Fridge Fires Cause $700K In Damage, Sparking Massive Recall Mini Fridge Fires Cause $700K In Damage, Sparking Massive Recall
Mini Fridge Fires Cause $700K In Damage, Sparking Massive Recall More than 630,000 mini refrigerators sold at Walmart and Amazon are being recalled after dozens reportedly caught fire or melted. Curtis International is recalling about 634,000 Frigidaire-brand mini fridges, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, July 24. The internal electrical parts in the fridges can short-circuit and ignite the plastic housing, posing serious fire and burn hazards. There have been 26 reports of the mini fridges "smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating, and catching fire." Two people suffered smoke inhalation, whi…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
High-Voltage Power Line Crashes Through NJ Driver's Windshield — She Somehow Survives High-Voltage Power Line Crashes Through NJ Driver's Windshield — She Somehow Survives
High-Voltage Power Line Crashes Through NJ Driver's Windshield — She Somehow Survives A driver narrowly escaped serious injury or worse when a high-voltage power line crashed onto her windshield while she was driving in Bergen County, incident reporter Boyd A. Loving said. The incident happened Thursday, May 15, after a tree fell and knocked down the live wire on Cornwall Road in Glen Rock, Loving said. Despite the terrifying moment, the driver of the Mazda CX 9 was uninjured and managed to drive her car away safely after speaking with a Glen Rock police officer, who gathered details for an accident report. Photo(s) of the day, 05/15/2025: A driver narrowly escape…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
3 Employees Severely Burned In Explosion At Capital Region Hydro Plant 3 Employees Severely Burned In Explosion At Capital Region Hydro Plant
3 Employees Severely Burned In Explosion At Capital Region Hydro Plant Three employees are hospitalized following an explosion at a hydroelectric plant in the region. Emergency crews in Rensselaer County were called at around 8:20 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, for an explosion at the Mount Ida Hydroelectric plant in Troy, located along Poesten Kill creek near Congress and Cypress streets. Troy Fire Chief Richard Cellucci said the city was working with National Grid to shut off power at the station when three men were hit by "a large electrical arc." All three victims suffered severe burns but were able to escape the building and call 911. Two were flown to a bur…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
IDs Released For Utility Workers Electrocuted In Area IDs Released For Utility Workers Electrocuted In Area
IDs Released For Utility Workers Electrocuted In Area Police have identified two electric workers who were found dead at the bottom of an electric pole after firefighters responded to a brush fire in Orange County. Derrick Paris, 51, of West Caldwell, New Jersey, and Justin McLoughlin, 28, of Trenton, Georgia, were working as private contractors for Orange & Rockland Utilities, when the were killed, said ABC 7.  According to O&R, the incident took place shortly before 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 19, when the two men were electrocuted in Warwick while performing work for O&R along a transmission right-of-way, said Mike Donovan, spoke…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Two Utility Workers Electrocuted In Area Two Utility Workers Electrocuted In Area
Two Utility Workers Electrocuted In Area Two electric workers were found dead at the bottom of an electric pole after firefighters responded to a brush fire in Orange County. According to Orange & Rockland Utilities, shortly before 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 19, two EJ Electric contractors were electrocuted in Warwick, while performing work for O&R along a transmission right-of-way, said Mike Donovan, spokesman for O&R. "These contractor employees generally perform transmission repair work for O&R and also provide distribution repair support during storm response," Donovan said. The two men, who reportedly worked for a…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Lightning Strike Burns Electrical Panel At Area Home Lightning Strike Burns Electrical Panel At Area Home
Lightning Strike Burns Electrical Panel At Area Home An intense thunderstorm over the weekend in the Rhinebeck area kept firefighters on the run, especially when a house was struck by lightning. The incident took place around 2:56 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3, on Montgomery Street off Route 9 in Rhinebeck, said Rhinebeck Fire Department Spokesman Jeff Cotter. Arriving crews encountered smoke showing from the eaves of the home and a significant amount of smoke throughout the house, Cotter said. An investigation found that an electrical current likely back-fed into the electrical panel box resulting in the smoke condition.  Firefighters remove…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Killed After Coming Into Contact With Power Lines In Northern Westchester, Police Say Man Killed After Coming Into Contact With Power Lines In Northern Westchester, Police Say
Man Killed After Coming Into Contact With Power Lines In Northern Westchester, Police Say A 56-year-old man was killed after coming into contact with power lines in Northern Westchester, state police said. Troopers were dispatched to Gallows Hill Road in Cortlandt around noon on Sunday, April 28 for a report of a man fallen out of a tree.  An investigation found Carlos M. Diaz, 56, of Peekskill, was employed by the homeowner for the purpose of tree trimming, and came into contact with the overhead power lines, according to police. Diaz was pronounced dead on the scene by the Westchester Medical Examiner’s Office. The State Police were assisted on scene by Cortlandt EM…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Severely Burned Following Electrocution While Trimming Trees In Montgomery Man Severely Burned Following Electrocution While Trimming Trees In Montgomery
Man Severely Burned Following Electrocution While Trimming Trees In Montgomery A 33-year-old who was electrocuted while trimming trees has been flown to a special burn unit out of state. The man, who works for Par 5 Landscaping, was trimming trees around 12:41 p.m., Tuesday at 318 Lake View Drive, in the Town of Montgomery when either his tool or the branches touched a live power line, said Montgomery Police Sgt. Jon Vantassel.  The man, who was working in a bucket truck, was electrocuted and received severe burns, Vantassel said. He was transported to Orange Regional Medical Center where he was later flown to a hospital in Pennsylvania, Vantassel said. This is a de…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Cause Determined For Trump Tower Fire That Killed Westchester Native Cause Determined For Trump Tower Fire That Killed Westchester Native
Cause Determined For Trump Tower Fire That Killed Westchester Native The cause has been determined of the raging fire that broke out in an apartment on the 50th floor of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan on Saturday, April 7 that resulted in the death of a Westchester native. The fire has been ruled accidental and the resulted of multiple power strips overloaded by electronic devices, the FDNY said. "Overloaded electrical outlets are one of the major causes of residential fires," sai d the FDNY. "Remember, power strips and surge protectors don’t provide more power, and extension cords are for temporary use only. Always plug appliances directly …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Beware Of Winter Fire Risks: Tips From National Protection Specialists Beware Of Winter Fire Risks: Tips From National Protection Specialists
Beware Of Winter Fire Risks: Tips From National Protection Specialists Here are a few storm safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration:Heating, holiday decorations, winter storms and candles all contribute to an increased risk of fire during the winter months. Heating Heating is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires, deaths and injuries.  Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home heating equipment fires, figuring in two of every five fires (40 percent).  Carbon Monoxide Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels…

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by Daily Voice
Business
Westchester-Based Fujifilm Recalls Charger Over Shock Hazard Westchester-Based Fujifilm Recalls Charger Over Shock Hazard
Westchester-Based Fujifilm Recalls Charger Over Shock Hazard Westchester-based Fujifilm was forced to recall hundreds of thousands of products after customers got a little bit of shock value with their packages. Fujifilm, which has a headquarters in Valhalla, recalled more than 270,000 power adapter wall plugs that were packaged with several of the company’s point-and-shoot camera models due to the risk of electrical shock, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to Yonkers-based Consumer Reports, Fujifilm’s AC-5VF plugs have been found to crack, break or detach from the camera’s charger, creating the threat of an electric shoc…

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by Zak Failla