With temperatures expected to drop this week, the American Red Cross is reminding residents to use extra caution with space heaters and fireplaces, noting that home fires make up a large share of the more than 60,000 disasters the organization responds to each year. The Red Cross said fire responses increase about 30% during colder months.
“Space heaters are the leading cause of home heating fires,” according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal echoed the message as another round of frigid Arctic air is forecast for this urging residents to keep space heaters a safe distance away from anything that can burn and to make heating safety a priority when using alternative heat sources.