With more families keeping charging systems plugged in for hours at a time, the risk of a fire starting from an electrical device has risen. In fact, fire fighting statistics observe that an increasing number of house fires each year are caused by computers, gaming systems, and other electronic items that have been left to charge for prolonged periods. When families want to avoid starting fires with their electronics, they are urged to take safety precautions before leaving home or going to sleep for the night.

Indeed, many people think nothing of leaving their cell phones on their charging systems overnight. They plug their phones in before bedtime and remove the charger first thing in the morning. However, safety experts note that fully charging a cell phone only takes an hour or two in most cases. Rather than charging it overnight, it may be wiser for a person to charge his or her electrical device when that individual returns home from work or while he or she eats dinner. Leaving a phone plugged in overnight can cause the charger and the phone both to overheat, which in turn may start a fire.

Likewise, many families leave their laptop computers plugged in and charging, rather than unplugging it for short amounts of time. Not only does this practice create higher electrical bills; it also increases the risk of the laptop's catching on fire. Studies in fire fighting show that if a computer has a compromised charger, such as one with a loose connection or frayed connector tip, this device is more susceptible to igniting from the constant electrical charge. For that reason, when people are not using their laptops, safety experts advise them to remove the charger from the outlet. This practice prevents both the charger and the laptop from overheating.

Taking these precautions with their electrical components can help families avoid the catastrophic losses experienced in a house fire. Studies show that an increasing number of residential fires are caused by computers, cell phones, and other items being left to charge for prolonged periods. Charging for shorter times prevents fires.