What's Happening in Tacoma, WA…

Owners of older buildings in Tacoma are being asked by the fire department to be on the lookout for a hazard that may be close to home.

The city council recently undertook a study to determine how much of a risk aluminum wires may pose. These were largely installed in structures built between 1965 and 1975 because of a spike that occurred in the price of copper at the time. Aluminum can present a problem because it can become corroded and cause electrical shorts, sparks, and even fires. This can result in a fire risk that is 55% higher than if copper wiring was used.

Fire officials reviewed city records and found that as many as 7,000 homes that are in their service area may be affected. This includes Tacoma, Fife and Fircrest.

Homeowners who wish to know what type of wiring they have can do so by looking at the sheathing that surrounds it. If it is aluminum, the word ‘aluminum’ or the letters ‘AL’ will be stamped on it, and the wires inside will be silver.

The fire department has set up a webpage and added information about the issue to the 311 system for the area, and it is investigating the possibility of adding an insert to utility bill to warn people about the problem. A flyer printing company could produce these.

The department recommends that those with aluminum wiring replace it with copper, or switch to updated, safer outlets.