Emergency Electrical Safety: What to Do Before the Electrician Arrives

Electrical emergencies are scary, and knowing what to do in the first few minutes can prevent injuries, fires, and further damage to your home. As electricians who handle emergency calls across San Diego County, here’s what we tell every customer over the phone while we’re on our way.

Scenario 1: Complete Power Loss

If your entire home goes dark:

1. Check if it’s just you. Look outside: are your neighbors’ lights on? If the whole street is dark, it’s a utility outage. Report it to SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343.
2. If only your home is dark, check your main breaker. It’s usually at the top of your electrical panel. If it’s tripped (in the middle position), try resetting it: flip it fully OFF, then back ON.
3. If the main breaker won’t stay on, do NOT keep resetting it. This indicates a serious problem. Call an emergency electrician immediately.
4. Unplug sensitive electronics (computers, TVs) to protect them from power surges when electricity returns.

Scenario 2: Burning Smell from an Outlet or Panel

This is the most dangerous scenario. Act fast:

1. Do NOT touch the outlet or panel. If you see discoloration, melting, or smoke, keep your distance.
2. Turn off the circuit breaker for that area if you can safely reach your panel.
3. If you see flames, use a Class C fire extinguisher (rated for electrical fires). Never use water on an electrical fire.
4. If the fire is growing, evacuate immediately and call 911 first, then your electrician.
5. Call a licensed electrician for any burning smell, even if it stops. The wiring behind the wall may be damaged and could reignite.

Scenario 3: Sparking Outlet

If you see sparks when plugging or unplugging:

1. Stop using that outlet immediately. Unplug everything from it.
2. A brief blue spark when plugging in is sometimes normal (the plug contacts the outlet before full insertion). This is harmless.
3. Yellow or white sparks, sparks that last more than a split second, or sparks accompanied by a popping sound indicate a wiring problem. Turn off the breaker for that circuit and call an electrician.

Scenario 4: Exposed or Damaged Wiring

If you can see bare wire (from storm damage, construction, or deterioration):

1. Do not touch it. Even wires that look “dead” can be energized.
2. Keep everyone (especially children and pets) at least 10 feet away.
3. If the wire is on the ground outdoors, it may be a downed power line. Call 911 and SDG&E immediately. Do not approach it.
4. If it’s inside your home, turn off the breaker for that area and call an electrician.

What NOT to Do During Any Electrical Emergency

• Don’t touch anything wet near electrical equipment
• Don’t use a regular fire extinguisher on electrical fires (must be Class C rated)
• Don’t try to repair it yourself: even if you’re handy, live electrical work kills
• Don’t ignore “small” issues: that faint burning smell or occasional spark is your home warning you

Martinez Electric: Emergency Service

We respond to electrical emergencies across El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and all of San Diego County. When you call, we’ll walk you through immediate safety steps while we dispatch.

Call (619) 249-0956, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. If there is active fire, smoke, or someone has been shocked, call 911 first.