KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With fall in full swing and winter on the way, temperatures will start to drop. Before you reach for a space heater to stay warm, one metro fire department wants you to think of safety first.
The Overland Park Fire Department preaches the “three feet from heat” rule. That means anything flammable should be at least three feet away from a space heater.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters are responsible for 79 percent of deaths in fires involving heating equipment inside homes.
“Space heaters produce heat, and heat is one of the things fire needs to occur. We want to try to eliminate that risk,” explained Tricia Roberts, the public education officer with the Overland Park Fire Department.
She said the biggest mistake she sees is people leave their heaters unattended, or fall asleep with heaters on. In that case, you may not notice something has gone wrong until it is too late.
Roberts said anything from paper and cardboard to clothes and curtains can catch fire if they are too close to a heater. She added you should plug your heater directly into an outlet, do not use an extension cord.
“When we see electrical fires, oftentimes it starts at the weakest link in the electrical chain, and often that is the extension cord,” Roberts explained.
Here’s a list of other tips fire departments and heater manufacturers recommend you follow:
- Some heaters are designed for use inside, others outside. Make sure to use your heater in the appropriate space.
- Place the heater on a level part of the floor.
- Do not place the heater on a table or shelf, unless the manufacturer designed it for that use.
- Do not sleep with a space heater running
- Do not leave the room with a space heater running
- Keep flammable items three feet away from the heater
- Keep heaters out of high-traffic areas in your home
- Buy a heater that shuts off if it tips over
- Buy a heater with a certification from a testing laboratory like Intertek or Underwriters Laboratories
- Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations
The Overland Park Fire Department warns against using appliances as heaters. Firefighters have responded to fires caused by people using ovens and hair dryers to keep themselves warm.
One last tip Roberts wants you to remember is to make sure all the smoke detectors and fire alarms in your house work.
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