What to Do During an Electrical Emergency in Ohio

Electrical emergencies don't wait for business hours. Whether it's 2am on a Sunday or the middle of a holiday weekend, a sparking outlet, smoking panel, or total power loss demands immediate attention. Here's what to do — and what not to do.

If You See Sparks or Smell Burning

• Do NOT try to put out an electrical fire with water
• Turn off the main breaker if you can safely reach your panel
• Get everyone out of the house immediately
• Call 911 if there is any visible fire or smoke
• Call HB Electric at (440) 773-3406 once the scene is safe

If Your Power Goes Out

First, check if it's just your home or the whole street. Check FirstEnergy Ohio's outage map online. If the outage is isolated to your home (neighbors have power), your main breaker may have tripped or a fuse has blown. Check your panel — if you see a tripped breaker, try resetting it once. If it trips again immediately, do not reset it again. Call an electrician.

If a Breaker Keeps Tripping

A breaker that repeatedly trips is protecting you from an overloaded or short-circuited circuit. Unplug everything on that circuit and try resetting once. If it holds, you had an overload — redistribute your devices. If it trips again with nothing plugged in, there's a wiring fault. Call HB Electric.

If an Outlet Is Making Noise, Sparking, or Warm to the Touch

Stop using it immediately. A warm outlet indicates dangerous arcing or loose wiring inside the wall. A crackling or buzzing sound is a warning that the outlet is failing. Do not use it again until a licensed electrician can inspect it. This is one of the most common causes of electrical fires in Ohio homes.

If Someone Is Electrocuted

Do NOT touch the person if they are still in contact with the electrical source — you will become a victim too. Turn off power at the breaker first. Call 911 immediately. Even if they appear fine, anyone who has received an electrical shock should be evaluated at a hospital.

HB Electric's 24/7 Emergency Line

HB Electric provides round-the-clock emergency electrical service across Lake County, Cuyahoga County, and Geauga County. Call (440) 773-3406 any time — nights, weekends, and holidays included. We'll get to you as fast as humanly possible.