ORLANDO, Fla. — Local fire departments warn those preparing for the cold tonight about the dangers of using space heaters.
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Floridians don’t get this kind of cold often, so many don’t really know how to operate the devices, especially those powered by propane or fuel.
“We will be ready,” said Timothy Shank, a Volusia County resident who braced for the cold temperatures with the heaters on and extra blankets.
“We haven’t had this cold for the last couple of years. It’s been pretty moderate temperatures, but this is cold for us. We usually keep the house above 70.”
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Shank’s AC system broke down a few weeks ago, so the only option he has is to use multiple space heaters across his home.
“I have two space heaters and two fireplaces,” said Shank. “We had to move around some outlets that were a little bit weak. We wanted to make sure they were strong.”
As temperatures drop across central Florida, residents are heading to hardware stores, many looking for temporary heating devices to keep it nice and toasty.
“We got a lot of customers coming in right now looking for heating options, stuff to keep the house warm for pets, for kids.
Jeffery Vierbickas, assistant manager at Ace Hardware on South Orange Avenue, said, " I’ve got a lot of folks coming and looking for firewood.”
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As convenient as they might be, space heaters need extra attention - especially if you have kids and pets at home.
“About 1/3 of all the fires in the United States are caused by space heaters in the wintertime.
About 80% of the deaths are caused by fires started by space heaters,” said Tod Zellers, Assistant Chief of Seminole County Fire Department.
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To ensure home safety, keep space heaters on the floor, plug them straight into an outlet—no power strips or extension cords—and keep kids and pets away from them.
“Space heaters should not be left unattended, and you should not go to sleep while they’re on. that’s when they can get knocked over by a pet or a child,” said Zellers.
Having a smoke detector at home is just as important as having a carbon monoxide detector, especially if you’re using heaters with propane.
Those are two different devices; you should have both at home all year, especially during the cold days.
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