SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Fires started by space heaters are common but easily avoidable. If you have a space heater here are some tips to stay safe this winter.
Experts say space heaters are only for temporary use. It should not be left on for more than four hours. Never have anything combustible within 3 feet of it. It is okay to use it under a desk to keep your feet but — you should never use it to heat your entire house. Space heaters should not be left on overnight.
“We don’t want you to be a statistic and if we use some common sense, we can avoid an accident, injury or loss of property,” Terry Francis of South Burlington’s Fire Department.
United States Fire Administration estimates people have about 19,000 space heating fires a year causing 190 deaths, about $344 million worth of damage and about 600 injuries that require emergency room visits.
