With colder winter months ahead and temperatures already turning cooler the need to supplement extra heat with the use of space heaters will be on the raise. During winter there are more fires caused by heating devices when precautions and safe guards are not in use or observed.
Already for the month of November there have been serious damaging fires that have happened most probably due to electrical space heaters. When there are these types of fire there’s reason to speculate that fire safety and fire prevention practices were lacking
Here are fires that happen so far, with suspected space heater as a cause for this month with no real digging for on the internet…
November 2: White Plains, New York — A fire killed 16 dogs, including puppies… in a suburban breeder’s backyard kennel, which an inspector later said was illegal. …the cause of the fire may have been a heat lamp or space heater….16 dogs die in fire at NY kennel that inspector says was illegal; space heater eyed as cause…
November 4, 2011: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Fire Official: Space Heater To Blame For Blaze. A space heater is believed to have caused a house fire in southeast Oklahoma City, fire officials said.
November 4, 2011: St. Louis, Missouri — Space heater to blame in St. Louis house fire…after a space heater caught fire in the room…
November 11, 2011: Atlanta, Georgia — House burns after Atlanta space heater fire…after a space heater was left on…and didn’t think twice about leaving a small space heater on top of a bedroom dresser…
November 11, 2011: Summit, Arkansas — A electric heater appeared to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a home Friday in Summit, fire officials said. …The fire appeared to have started from an electrical space heater in the front bedroom…The four-bedroom is a total loss…
November 12, 2011: Volney, New York – An apartment building blaze…Space heater suspected cause in fire… believed that the fire was caused by a space heater plugged in to an extension cord in the middle of the building in one of the downstairs apartments.
Also, At the Volney, New York fire, one volunteer firefighter was reported being startled when a wall collapsed on him, luckily he wasn’t physically injured but was “a little dazed.” Another volunteer firefighter was slightly injured after falling five feet off a ladder. “Scene Safety” becomes paramount to the firefighter when on the fire ground but can be easily overlooked combating the fire but shouldn’t.
If you must use a space heater for heat, use it as safely as possible.
• When buying a heater, look for one that has been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL).
• Keep the heater three feet away from drapes, furniture or other flammable materials.
• Place the heater on a level surface away from areas where someone might bump into it and knock it over.
• Avoid using extension cords. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy duty cord marked with a power rating at least as high as that on the label of the heater itself.
• Never leave a space heater unattended or running while you sleep.
• Supervise children and pets when a space heater is in use.
• Keep electric heaters away from water. Never use them near a sink or in the bathroom.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
