The recent death of an elderly Mount Hermon man has been attributed to a fire that was caused by a space heater.
As Mount Hermon fire chief Jeremy Freeman noted, space heaters are the frequent cause of house fires when they are used improperly.
The bitterly cold weather that Washington Parish has experienced recently likely resulted in more residents using space heaters.
Used safely, the heaters can really help keep a person or a family warm.
But when used improperly, they are a dangerous fire hazard. It is estimated that space heaters caused approximately 25,000 fires in the United States during the year 2022, with approximately 300 deaths resulting from those fires.
The major causes of space heater fires are:
1. The space heater is placed too close to flammable material, such as clothing, bedding, curtains, paper, and similar items.
2. The space heater is being used with an extension cord or a power strip. This is a huge no-no. Space heaters should only be used with the cord plugged directly into a wall outlet, and extension cords and power strips should never be used.
Other safety tips to remember:
---Never place the space heater on rugs or carpet.
---Only place the space heater on a hard surfaced floor, never on a table, cabinet, or other furniture.
---Leave three feet between the space heater and any other object.
---Turn the space heater off when you leave the room. Also, turn it off before you go to sleep. Never leave the space heater on while you sleep.
Space heaters can provide economical heat, but they must be used safely. By strictly following safety guidelines, Washington Parish residents can avoid the life-threatening fires caused by improper usage of a space heater.
