COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A window air-conditioning unit caused an electrical fire Wednesday afternoon, seriously damaging a home near 3400 East and Hidden Oak Drive.
Firefighters responded at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and spent 25 minutes suppressing the flames.
The air-conditioning unit overloaded an electrical outlet in the garage of the house and caused it to short and spark, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Clint Smith.
"Ultimately this 15-amp receptacle wasn't rated for the pull this air-conditioning unit put on it," Smith said. "The outlet wasn't quite the appropriate rating for the appliance they were using."
The damage was estimated at $100,000.
"This is a good reminder for people to have that conversation with the person selling the appliances we use around the home. You want to know the amount of power that it's going to draw and make sure the receptacle can handle it," Smith said.
— Michael Gonda