With structure fires on the rise thus far in 2025, Newberry Fire Chief Gene Shealy reminds residents to practice important safety steps to ensure their home and family are safe from preventable fires.
“The City of Newberry has responded to 13 structure fires in 2025,” said Shealy. “Of those fires, 10 were within the city limits, with three being calls for mutual aid to Newberry County.”
Two of the main causes of structure fires this year, Shealy said, were due to electrical issues and unattended cooking.
“With our number of structure fire calls up from last year, we just want to remind our citizens that most fires are contributed to human error or negligence and for this reason, are preventable,” he said.
Electrical Safety
Shealy said in this year alone, their department has seen a few fires that were caused by an overloaded extension cord or outlet.
“Only use extension cords for temporary use,” Shealy said. “This is for use with a portable appliance, but certainly not to run appliances for days at a time.”
Appliances should be plugged directly into a wall socket.
Other electrical safety tips include using light bulbs that match the recommended wattage, Shealy said.
“Often times, people will plug several appliances into one outlet with a multi-plug adapter,” Shealy said. “The wall outlet can only handle the electrical output that it was designed to meet.”
Shealy said that often, a person’s home will tell them that there’s an issue before a fire occurs and to be observant of those signs. These can include (but are not limited to) a breaker trip, outlets sparking, or lights flickering. All could be a sign that there is an issue with electrical wiring.
“The cause may be an overloaded outlet,” Shealy said, but if you’re not sure, call a certified electrician to check these types of issues. Please take these steps to help keep your family safe from electrical fires.”
Cooking Safety
Staying alert while cooking, never attempting to cook while sleepy or under the influence of any substances and keeping flammable items away from cooking sources are cooking safety tips Shealy wants residents to keep in mind.
“In today’s fast-paced world that presents so many distractions, it’s important that you don’t take your focus off the task at hand,” he said.
Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing while cooking that can dangle over a stovetop, causing ignition. Using the back burners of your stove whenever possible can prevent pets or small children from knocking over hot items. Do not store any combustibles on or near stove tops, Shealy said.
In the event of a kitchen appliance fire, Shealy advises residents to turn off or unplug the appliance. For small grease fires, smother flames by carefully covering the pan with a lid. After covering, turn off the burner and do not attempt to move the pan.
For a fire occurring in an oven or microwave, turn off and close the door to the appliance, he said.
After any fire involving an appliance, the appliance should be checked by a licensed professional and serviced before using it again.
“Call 9-1-1 any time you have a fire, no matter the size,” Shealy said. “The Newberry Fire Department will come out and make sure there is no extension of fire into other areas and ensure your home is well ventilated.”
For assistance with a home safety check or smoke alarm installation, Shealy asks city residents to call the Newberry Fire Department at (803) 321-1030 or to fill out a request online at Newberryfd.com.
“Thank you for helping us keep Newberry fire safe,” he said.
