Blumenthal Calls For Safety Standard For Space Heaters At West Haven News Conference

Press release from the City of West Haven:

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Pictured, from left): U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal with Chief Michael R. Terenzio and Deputy Chief Michael T. Esposito of the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown at a news conference Wednesday, Jan. 3, to call attention to the dangers of space heaters.

The fire safety news conference took place at the department’s Minor Park Station, 318 Fairfax St., and included remarks by Terenzio and Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Blumenthal has introduced the Safer Heat Act of 2023, a bill that would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to “issue a consumer product safety standard for portable electric heating devices,” such as requiring manufacturers to install an automatic shut-off mechanism.

According to the CPSC, an average of 1,700 fires involving space heaters occur each year. In 2017-19, space heater-related fires caused 70 deaths and 160 injuries.

(COWHFD Photo)

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.