Maine Residents Warned That Doing This Could Cause A House Fire

When it comes to weather, we have officially entered that transitional phase.  It is cold in the morning and in the evening, but warm most days.  With days in the 60s and nights in the 30s, you probably aren't ready to turn the furnace on, right?  So, instead, you use space heaters to warm up those lived-in spots in your house.  You just want something to take the "chill off".

You probably think you've got a good handle on safely operating those heaters, right?  You make sure they're away from the walls and furniture, you make sure they are well away from flammable objects, and you keep small children (and pets) away from the heaters.

Maine fire departments are warning people about another danger involving these heaters.

According to a 2018 article from WGME, fire officials are warning people not to use power strips or lower grade extension cords when using these electric heaters.  These lower grade power strips and cords are not capable of handling the extra power draw that these heaters require.

Instead, these heaters should ONLY be plugged directly into wall outlets.

The article goes on to say:

From 2009 to 2013, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 56,000 reported U.S. home fires — accounting for 16 percent of the total, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFP). In those fires, 470 people died, 1,490 were injured and $1 billion in property damage was reported.

In addition to making sure these heaters are always plugged directly into the wall, you should never leave them unattended.  Make sure they are off and unplugged before you leave the house or go to bed.