WASHINGTON, D.C. – Experts are warning folks during these cold days to skip the power strip and plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet to minimize fire hazard.
Space heaters require a lot of power, the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises. Many power strips and extension cords are not designed to carry the amount of power a space heater needs. If a power strip or extension cord becomes overloaded, it can literally meltdown and cause a fire. Just last winter in Mason City, a space heater caused $18,000 damage to a garage. The Mason City fire department has issued warnings in the past about the dangers of space heaters.
To prevent a fire, always plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet. The power strip in the above photo caught on fire from being forced to carry too much power.
While they make your living space more comfortable in cold temperatures, it is important to note that space heaters are responsible for almost one-third of house fires in the United States, annually. More ominous is the fact that space heaters are involved in nearly 79 percent of house fire fatalities.