Space Heater Causes PG County Fire

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD -- Firefighters are reminding people of the dangers of space heaters this winter season as a District Heights family managed to escape without injury following a fire early Wednesday morning.

Firefighters responded to the 7400 block of Leona Street at around 2:30 a.m. to the report of a fire in the basement of a single-family home, according to a report from the Prince George's County Fire Department.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames, but not before it caused $30,000 in damage to the house. Three adults and a dog were uninjured but displaced by the fire, and are being assisted by the American Red Cross and the County Office of Emergency Management.

"An occupant told investigators that a space heater was left on during the time everyone slept," the report states. "The space heater appears to have ignited nearby combustibles. No mention if there were any smoke alarms in the house."

The fire department offers the following tips for safe operation of space heaters:

• Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Turn off space heaters before going to sleep at night.
• Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.
• Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater.
• Space heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater.
  Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use. Never leave a space heater on and unattended.
• Finally, having a working 10-year smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. Remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

Image of 7400 block of Leona Street via Google Maps