A house fire in Tainan's Xinshi district started in the home's electrical box, and nobody was hurt — but it's a warning for anyone living in an older house.

• The fire broke out in a home's electrical panel on a Saturday morning; the owner cut the main power and put it out before firefighters arrived.
• The causes: old wiring with worn insulation, a loose breaker contact that overheated, and too many devices on one circuit.
• Living rooms and bedrooms are the danger spots — one holds the power-hungry appliances, the other is where people sleep and notice nothing.
• Firefighters say to check outlets for scorch marks or looseness, and never bundle up or damage extension cords.
• Older homes should have a licensed electrician inspect the whole panel and replace aging wiring.

Outlook: Electrical fires like this stay one of the most common household fire causes, and the fix is routine inspection rather than luck.