Cold Weather Space Heater Safety Reminders

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — When the cold weather makes its way to central Indiana and sneaks into our homes, portable space heaters are used by some residents to heat one room or to help with central heating. The Wayne Township Fire Department is sharing these safety tips and recommendations for those planning on using portable electric space heaters, as the department said nearly half of all space heater fires involve electric space heaters:

Heater Checklist

• Purchase a heater with the seal of an independent testing laboratory.
• Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including people.
• Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection.
• Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.
• Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.
• Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
• Keep children away from the space heater.
• Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
• Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.

For weather updates and more, subscribe to the Indianapolis Patch daily newsletter which is delivered to your inbox once a day to keep you updated with breaking news and other updates, for free. Make sure to "Like" Indianapolis Patch on Facebook.

Image via Shutterstock