A significant proportion of all fires that occur in structures are caused by electrical short circuits. The building's wiring system, lighting fixtures, appliances, installed machinery, and extension chords are the some of the more common items in which shorting occurs. The arc plasma created by electrical shorting is the same type of plasma created during arc welding, which can reach temperatures ranging from 2,500°F to 10,000°F. While shorting is indeed a common cause of fires, unfortunately some fires not caused by shorting are conveniently blamed on electrical shorting. It is the case that electrical shorting is the "cause of last resort" for some investigators. In an electrical circuit, conductor pathways are provided so that electricity can flow to and from an appliance or component to perform some funcdon. A short circuit happens when the electrical current flows through an unintended pathway that is a shortcut electrical pathway, between the conductors.