Common household items causing potentially deadly housefires

Common household items are leading to life threatening fires, according to the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Blazes caused by electronic devices that have been left on charge have more than doubled in the last year, increasing from eight to 17.

Deputy Commissioner, Craig Waters said that fires can occur when the device is being charged or just sitting idle.

It has prompted the department to create a virtual reality experience, demonstrating how quickly the flames can spread.

Within seconds a tablet sitting on a full washing basket has caught alight.

Within minutes the flames are spreading up the wall of the room.

Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan says the speed of the fire even surprised him.

'It's a first-hand experience of what happens when a fire starts in your home and how quickly it spreads," he said.

While charging devices can be extremely dangerous, the number one cause of house fires is unattended cooking.

It accounts for around 200 of the 1200 house fires in WA every year.

Firefighters are urging residents to check that their fire alarms are working and to never leave a device on charge on a bed, sofa or soft fabric and to turn off chargers at the wall when they're not in use.