Fire and Emergency believes an elderly man's death last week was caused by an electric blanket igniting.
Photo: popovaphoto/123RF
The man died in a house fire in the South Auckland suburb of Ardmore on Wednesday.
Fire risk management national adviser Peter Gallagher said the man often wrapped an electric blanket around his lower back to relieve pain.
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Mr Gallagher said the remains of an electric blanket were found in a chair and, although the cause of the fire was not yet confirmed, it was the most likely cause.
He said 105 heater fires and nine electric blanket fires had been recorded in the past 12 months.
Fire and Emergency said electric blankets should be placed flat on beds and checked by an electrician at the first sign of wear.
