Naugatuck Fire Urges Residents Not To Plug Air Conditioners Into Extension Cords

NAUGATUCK, CT — As Naugatuck continues to experience an intense heatwave this summer, fire officials urge residents not to plug their air conditioners into extension cords or multi-plug adapters.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, fire officials said a common fire prevention message is not to use extension cords or multi-plug adapters for high current appliances such as space heaters and air conditioners.

"The heat generated by the current will melt the insulation and cause a fire due to electrical arcing," fire officials said on Facebook.

According to fire officials, the fire marshal's office found air conditioners connected to these items in four different Naugatuck apartments this week alone, all of which "were close to starting fires in the apartments."

Air conditioners should only be plugged into wall outlets, and residents should never use an extension cord, gang plug or a power strip for AC units, fire officials said.

More information is available here.