Electricity is one of the greatest forms of energy today and one cannot imagine how different our lives would be without it. However, if mismanaged, our silent servant can be deadly. In 2001, 17% of all fire fatalities were in fires attributed to electricity. In 2000 the figure was 9% but in 1999 the figure was 19%. It was 18% in 1998. In 2000 almost 1,500 fires were caused by electricity, one third of which were due to electrical wiring installations. The figures speak for themselves and it is a miracle that more lives have not been lost.