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Surge Protector Fires "Surge protectors are sacrificial, they need to be replaced after they have protected against a large surge"
Are malfunctioning Surge protectors a hazard?
Fowler Associates continues to investigate fires which may be caused by surge protectors. We are trying to get the word out to let people know to change out their old protectors and get new ones with more fire protection.
The problem with surge protectors many times starts with a bad neutral. The following circuit shows the problems with bad , floating or broken neutrals. After disasters like Katrina or an ice storm, the neutral wire at a facility may be broken. W
Wise: Some related Web Articles: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml99/99100c.html
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Fowler
Associates Investigates
How
does one know if their surge protector is no longer functioning?
The
answers are frightening. Surge protectors
typically have a device in them called an MOV ( Metal Oxide Varistor).
These devices once "surged" will fail at lower and lower voltages.
Since the shunt the current around the devices you wish to protect,
eventually they are shunting too much current and become overheated.
Old
surge protectors had no way of letting you know if they had been sacrificed.
And, yes, they are a hazard. Many fires are started by old surge protectors
which have been damaged by a surge. In certain conditions like a "floating
neutral", they can become over heated and catch fire. Since they
are usually under something or behind something, they have a good source
of fuel to continue to burn and possibly end in tragedy. 
Newer
surge protectors have lights that tell you if the protector is still
"protected." They also have thermal cutouts placed tightly
against the MOV's to turn them off if they become overheated and thereby
prevent them from igniting.
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