Sunday, December 24, 2017

Overloaded electrical extension cord was the cause of fire that killed Alicia Evans and her daughters Amani and Layla last week in their Northeast Baltimore home.





BALTIMORE, MD (WBFF)-- 





Baltimore City Fire Officials have released information about what started a deadly fire that killed a mother and her two young daughters

Alicia Evans and her daughters Amani and Layla died last week after a fire broke out in their Northeast Baltimore home.

Firefighters pulled the family from the burning home in cardiac arrest. Alicia and one of her daughters died on scene, the other was rushed to an area hospital. The four-year old succumbed to her injuries the next day.

Wednesday, officials said the cause of the fire was electrical.

A spokesman for the department told FOX45 the origin was an extension cord on the second floor. Fire officials would not say what was plugged in to the extension cord.

A GoFundMe page set up for the family has raised more than $10,000 to assist with funeral expenses.

This has been one of the deadliest years for fire fatalities in Baltimore since 2007.



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BALTIMORE, MD (WBFF)-- 


Baltimore City Fire officials announce the death of a second child after a fatal house fire that killed the child's mother and 4-year-old sister.

Flames tore through the E Coldspring Lane home early Wednesday. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke showing from the first and second floor of the 2-story home.


The mother and the toddlers were pulled from the home in cardiac arrest.

The woman and her 4-year-old daughter died Wednesday, the death of the 5-year-old was announced Thursday.

According to a facebook post by Mercy High School, the mother is Alicia Evans, a mercy graduate and her daughters Amani and Layla.



This has been one of the deadliest years for fire fatalities in Baltimore since 2007.


The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

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Extension Cord Safety: What to Do and What to Avoid

  • Purchase only cords that have been approved by an independent testing laboratory.
  • For outdoor projects, use only extension cords marked for outdoor use.
  • Read the instructions (if available) for information about the cord's correct use and the amount of power it draws.
  • Select cords that are rated to handle the wattage of the devices with which they'll be used. A cord's gauge indicates its size: The smaller the number, the larger the wire and the more electrical current the cord can safely handle.
  • Also consider the length you'll need. Longer cords can't handle as much current as shorter cords of the same gauge.
  • Choose cords with polarized or three-prong plugs.
  • For use with larger appliances, thick, round, low-gauge extension cords are best. For smaller appliances and electronics, you can use thin or flat cords.

Using extension cords

  • Never remove an extension cord's grounding pin in order to fit it into a two-prong outlet.
  • Avoid powering multiple appliances with one cord.
  • Never use indoor extension cords outdoors.
  • Don't plug multiple cords together.
  • Don't run extension cords under rugs or furniture.
  • Never tape extension cords to floors or attach them to surfaces with staples or nails.
  • Don't bend or coil cords when they're in use.
  • Cover unused cord receptacles with childproof covers.
  • Stop using extension cords that feel hot to the touch.

Caring for extension cords

  • Always store cords indoors.
  • Unplug extension cords when they're not in use.
  • Throw away damaged cords.
  • Pull the plug—not the cord—when disconnecting from the outlet.
And remember that extension cords are intended as temporary wiring solutions. If you find you're using them on a permanent basis, consider updating your home's electrical system.