You should never plug a heater into a power strip," Umatilla County Fire District #1 in Hermiston, Oregon, warned on Facebook Monday, posting a photo of a fried multi-outlet to prove their point. "These units are not designed to handle the high current flow needed for a space heater and can overheat or even catch fire due to the added energy flow."
If you're planning on using a space heater this winter, follow these five safety tips from Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI):
- Turn space heaters off and unplug them when you go to bed or leave the room.
- Keep space heaters three feet away from anything that can burn.
- Plug
space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord
or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug
any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
- Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them once a month.
- Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture, or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire.