KANSAS CITY, Mo – Space heater related fires have claimed several lives in the metro area.
Most recently a
duplex fire in St. Joseph that killed four people including two children may have been the result of a faulty space heater.
The American Red Cross has issued the following safety tips:
- Only use space heaters that turn off automatically when tipped over.
- Use portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms only.
- Keep blankets, clothing, curtains, furniture and anything that could get hot and catch fire at least three feet away from all heat sources.
- Keep small children away from heaters.
- Turn off portable heater every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Place heaters on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor).
- Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
Other Alternative Heating Sources- Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and always use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
- Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Teach children to tell an adult if they find matches, or see someone playing with matches, lighters or fire.
- Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces and chimneys inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
For more information about fire prevention and safety visit
www.kcredcross.org/firesafety.
NBC Action News Reporter Lindsay Shively is taking with Strasser Hardware Wednesday morning, who offers the following
information and safety tips about space heaters.
Watch from 5 to 7 a.m. for more from Lindsay.
