How Do Space Heaters Cause Fires?

In 1999, the improper use of space heaters caused $69.5 million in property damage in the U.S.

All types of space heaters have the potential to cause damage, serious injury and death if not operated properly and monitored carefully. Due to their portability and the potential of placing them in inappropriate places, they pose a much greater risk of causing fires than other types of heaters, such as furnaces and wall-mounted units.

Playing With Fire

Even with all the safety features added to today's space heaters, fire is still an unpredictable force that can quickly get out of hand. Add to that mix the presence of highly flammable substances, such as gas or kerosene, and you have a recipe for potential disaster. Flammable fuels can explode and defective wiring can spark, making it imperative that someone be near at all times to ensure that this doesn't happen. A fully charged fire extinguisher should always be kept in an easily accessible place near a space heater.

Distance Considerations

All space heaters should be placed at least 3 feet from any and all combustible materials. These include curtains, tablecloths, upholstery, papers, magazines and wastebaskets. Space heaters should not be used to dry items, such as wet towels or clothing, as they could fall onto the heater and start a fire, reports the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. In households with small children or pets, a guard should be placed around the heater, and children should never be allowed to go near the heater under any circumstances.

Using Good Judgment

All heaters should be marked as tested and certified by a legitimate testing laboratory as they have been rated as meeting all safety standards, and manufacturers are required by law to supply consumers with instructions on their use and care. The heater should fit the size of the space to be heated and doors to other rooms left open to minimize the concentration of harmful vapors in a single area and to maximize combustion. Keep the instruction manual in a handy place for quick reference, and ensure all adult members of the household know how to safely operate the heater as well as what to do in an emergency.

An Ounce of Prevention

Heaters should be placed on hard level surfaces, not on flammable carpeting. Flammable liquids like gasoline should never be stored near a space heater as vapors can travel across an area and be ignited by an open flame or the spark from a defective electrical cord. Fuel-operated heaters should be inspected, cleaned and adjusted regularly by trained technicians. Any defective or missing parts should be replaced immediately, and defective heaters should never be operated.

References

• Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Security: Space Heater Fire Safety
• Harvard University: Space Heater Safety Fact Sheet
• National Fire Protection Association: NFPA: Rising energy costs may trigger more heating fires
• Office of Compliance, Safety, and Health: Space Heaters
• U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission: What You Should Know About Space Heaters Used for Supplemental Room Heating