Emergency Electrical: What to Do Before the Electrician Arrives

Electrical Emergencies: Stay Calm, Stay Safe

An electrical emergency can happen without warning — a burning smell from an outlet, sparks flying from a panel, a downed power line in the yard after a Wisconsin storm. Your first moments of response matter. Knowing what to do (and what not to do) can protect your family and your home until professional help arrives.

This guide covers the most common residential electrical emergencies and gives you a clear action plan for each one.

When to Call 911 (Not an Electrician)

Some electrical situations are life-threatening emergencies that require the fire department, not an electrician. Call 911 immediately if:

• You see flames or heavy smoke from any electrical source — an outlet, panel, appliance, or wiring.
• Someone has been electrocuted and is unconscious, not breathing, or has burns. Do not touch the person if they are still in contact with the electrical source.
• A power line is down on your property, vehicle, or near people. Stay at least 35 feet away. If you are in a vehicle with a downed line on it, stay inside unless the vehicle is on fire.
• You smell natural gas AND suspect an electrical problem. Gas leaks combined with electrical arcing can cause explosions. Leave the home immediately without flipping any switches.
• Water is in contact with electrical equipment — such as a flooded basement with a submerged panel, sump pump, or outlets underwater.

When to Call an Electrician

These situations are serious but not immediately life-threatening. Call a licensed electrician as soon as possible:

• A burning or acrid smell from an outlet, switch, or panel with no visible flames
• A breaker that trips repeatedly and will not stay on
• Outlets or switches that are hot to the touch
• Visible scorch marks or discoloration around outlets or the panel
• A buzzing or crackling sound from the panel or walls
• Loss of power to part of the house (not related to a utility outage)
• A GFCI outlet that will not reset
• Sparks when plugging in or unplugging devices

Immediate Safety Steps for Any Electrical Emergency

While you wait for help — whether 911 or your electrician — follow these steps:

1. Do Not Touch Anything That Might Be Energized

This sounds obvious, but in a stressful moment people instinctively reach for things. If an outlet is sparking, do not try to unplug the device. If a wire is exposed, do not try to move it. If someone is being shocked, do not grab them with your bare hands — you will become part of the circuit.

2. Stay Away From the Panel

Do not go to the electrical panel and do not touch the main breaker, even if it looks safe to reach. Cutting power is our job, not a homeowner step — call us and we will get someone out. If there is fire or smoke, or anyone is in danger, get out and call 911 first.

3. Get Everyone Out if There Is Smoke or Fire

Electrical fires spread fast and produce toxic fumes. If you see smoke, get everyone out of the house first, then call 911 from outside. Do not go back in for belongings.

4. Use a Fire Extinguisher Only If Safe

If there is a small, contained electrical fire (such as in an appliance) and you have a Class C or ABC fire extinguisher, you can attempt to put it out — but only if you have a clear exit behind you. Never use water on an electrical fire. If the fire is in the walls, get out immediately. Wall fires spread in ways you cannot see.

5. Unplug Appliances in the Affected Area

If you have lost power to part of the house or a circuit keeps tripping, unplug all devices on the affected circuit before the electrician arrives. This helps the electrician diagnose the problem and prevents damage to your electronics when power is restored.

What NOT to Do During an Electrical Emergency

In the stress of the moment, people sometimes make these dangerous mistakes:

• Do not flip a tripping breaker back on repeatedly. A breaker trips for a reason — it is protecting your home from an overload or a fault. Forcing it back on can cause a fire.
• Do not use water to extinguish an electrical fire. Water conducts electricity. Use a Class C fire extinguisher or get out.
• Do not ignore a burning smell. An electrical burning smell — often described as hot plastic, burning rubber, or an acrid chemical odor — means something is overheating. It will not fix itself.
• Do not try to repair wiring yourself in an emergency. Adrenaline is not a substitute for training. Secure the area and wait for a professional.
• Do not touch a downed power line or anything in contact with it. A downed line can energize the ground around it. Even a line that appears dead can be re-energized at any moment.
• Do not re-enter a building after an electrical fire until cleared by the fire department. Structural damage and hidden hot spots can make the building unsafe.

Emergency Preparedness Checklist

Do these things now, before an emergency happens:

• Know where your main electrical panel is, so you can tell an electrician over the phone.
• Keep the panel accessible and clear of stored items.
• Keep a Class ABC fire extinguisher near the panel and on each floor.
• Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries near the panel.
• Save your electrician's number in your phone before you need it. For anything involving fire, smoke, or a downed line, 911 and your electric utility come first at any hour.
• Test your smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries annually.
• Consider whole-house surge protection to reduce the risk of equipment damage during storms — SE Wisconsin sees its share of lightning and power surges.

After the Emergency

Once the immediate danger has passed, have a licensed electrician inspect the affected area thoroughly. Even if everything seems fine, hidden damage inside walls — melted insulation, charred connections, compromised wires — can create future hazards. An inspection after an electrical event is not optional; it is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I call an electrician or the fire department for a burning smell from an outlet?

If you see smoke or flames, call 911 first. If there is a burning smell but no visible fire, stop using whatever is on that circuit and stay away from it. Do not go to the panel and do not touch the breaker. Call an electrician, and if the smell is getting worse, call 911. It is always better to have the fire department check and find nothing than to wait and have a fire start in the wall.

How quickly can an electrician respond to an emergency?

For a hazard that is contained — power off to the affected circuit, nothing burning — call your electrician and describe what happened; urgent problems are typically seen the same or next business day. Leaving a known hazard unaddressed is never worth the savings of putting it off.

What should I do if my whole house loses power but my neighbors still have lights?

First, check your main breaker — it may have tripped. If the main breaker is in the ON position and you have no power, the problem is likely between the utility meter and your panel, or at the utility connection itself. Contact We Energies (or your local utility) to rule out a service-side issue. If the utility confirms their side is working, call a licensed electrician to inspect your service entrance and main panel.

Need emergency electrical help? Call Couillard Electric at (262) 618-2851 for a free estimate. We provide emergency electrical service throughout Racine, Kenosha, and the surrounding area.