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Fire Marshal warns of space heaters

By Staff | Jan 16, 2019

NASHUA – Nearly half of home heating fires happen in December, January and February. Most tend to involve space heaters (either portable or stationary), and the deadliest fires happen when heaters are too close to things that can burn, such as clothing, bedding or furniture.

New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Paul Parisi encourages residents to give space heaters plenty of room, and follow manufacturer’s instructions closely when using any type of heating equipment. That includes the furnace, wood or pellet stove, or any portable heater.

There are many types of supplemental heaters, including electric, propane, or oil/kerosene, and variations within those categories-convection, radiant and combination. Each can be dangerous and some aren’t meant for indoor use. Those that aren’t electric can quickly replace clean air with deadly carbon monoxide.

Parisi advises residents to adhere to these safety tips:

* Know what kind of unit one has and be familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions;

* put it on a flat surface where it can’t be easily knocked over-not on top of a table or chair;

* make sure the heater’s power cord is not frayed or damaged. If the power cord feels hot to the touch, don’t use the heater. Call an electrician to inspect it;

* prevent electrocution by keeping heaters away from water;

* make sure children stay away from an open heater;

* monitor heaters while in use–turn off and unplug if leaving the area;

* keep space heaters away from walkways, exits, or congested areas;

* plug heater cords directly into an outlet. Do not run the power cord underneath carpets, rugs or furniture; and

* make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

“Do not simply remove a heater from its packaging and turn it on. If your instructions have found their way to the trash, look for the unit’s make and model number – you can often find the manufacturer’s operating instructions online,” Parisi added.

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