Photos of melted plugs, melted outlets, and cries of “fire hazard”. So I did what any crazy hacker would do – bought two power strips. One with a fixed right angle plug to use in my office ...

Power strips are popular, useful tools that you can find in almost any home. Everybody knows what they do, and in an age where more things need cables, power strips have almost become a necessity.

Firefighters discovered a fire involving one plug socket and carried out a "thorough" investgiation. Crews were finished at the scene by 9.10am.

Plugging them into a strip increases the risk of overheating and fire hazards. Always plug them directly into a wall outlet! Why? These appliances cycle on and off, requiring high bursts of energy.

In our increasingly connected world, having access to power outlets is essential. From charging our smartphones to powering our laptops, the demand for outlets has never been higher. But what happens ...