Yesterday I inspected the aftermath of a fire caused by a ceiling light. The fixture had no junction box and used halogen bulbs that run extremely hot. After about 10 years, the wires overheated, stuck together, and finally caught fire. The 15A breaker never tripped, because standard breakers don’t detect that kind of fault.
So, how do you avoid this?
1. Check smoke detectors. Make sure they work and that you have one in every room except bathrooms and kitchens.
2. Replace risky fixtures. Old halogen lights waste energy and create a lot of heat. Switch to LEDs — safer, cooler, and more efficient.
3. Upgrade wiring and panels. Outdated knob-and-tube wiring and old panels are fire hazards. Modern panels allow advanced breakers:
AFCI breakers catch dangerous arcs before they start a fire.
GFCI breakers stop current leaking to ground, same protection as GFCI outlets but at the panel.
Bottom line: Electrical fires build up slowly — years of heat, stress, and outdated gear. Keeping detectors active, using safe fixtures, and upgrading panels with AFCI/GFCI protection gives your home safety and you peace of mind.
