The incidence of electrical fires is described, and it is shown that fires due to apparatus occur at a rate of one per 104MWh transmitted. Fires due to fixed installations do not appear to vary with time, although it is expected that these may increase during the coming years owing to the ageing of cables. There appears to be little evidence that fires are being caused by the overloading of cables. Details are given of a survey which is to start in 1957.