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The fire broke out because a room heater was too close to flammable objects.
AUSTIN, Texas – With cooler temperatures observed in central Texas, the Austin Fire Department (AFD) is reminding area residents to be careful when using space heaters.
The reminder comes after the department responded to a fire early Friday morning caused by a space heater left too close to flammable objects. The fire caused a total of $ 600,000 in damage at a commercial center at 5602 Clay Ave, according to the department.
The department said the fire caused $ 400,000 in damage to the structure and $ 200,000 in contents.
The fire was limited to one unit that was later identified as Suite A. Nobody was seriously injured, but one person and a firefighter were treated on the spot for minor injuries, the AfD said.
“There’s a reason space heaters are called that … because they take up space,” the department said in a tweet. “When the temperature drops, remember: give these space heaters plenty of space!”
There’s a reason space heaters are called that … b / c they take up space! A fire yesterday morning caused $ 600,000 in damage after this space heater was left too close to combustible materials and set it on fire. So when the temperature drops, remember: give these space heaters plenty of SPACE! đź“· © AFD pic.twitter.com/OHuhxzCKPs
– Austin Fire Dept (@austinfiredept) November 20, 2021
Fire in a large commercial strip center. 5606 Clay Ave. Fire restricted to one unit. A resident of the fire department is rated by @ATCEMS pic.twitter.com/T8jj8ppgkB
– Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) November 19, 2021
Clay Ave final, the crews will work on the overhaul for a few more hours. Accidentally put flammable substances on the heater. $ 400,000 structure, $ 200k content. 1 inmate and 1 firefighter treated with minor injuries on site. pic.twitter.com/Bc3ydgtylI
– Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) November 19, 2021
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), a nonprofit that promotes electrical safety, heating appliances are the second leading cause of house fires in the United States, with more than 65,000 house fires attributable to such appliances.
ESFI offers the following safety tips to help protect your home when it’s cold outside:
- Make sure your space heater has the label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
- Before using a space heater, carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels.
- Before each use, inspect the heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections. Do not use the heater if it is frayed, worn, or damaged.
- Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you leave a room or go to sleep, and don’t let pets or children play too close to a space heater.
- Space heaters are only intended to provide additional heat and should never be used to warm bed linen, cook food, dry clothes, or defrost pipes.
- Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside of all sleeping areas and test them out once a month.
- Proper placement of space heaters is critical. Heating equipment must be at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing, and carpets.
- Place space heaters outside of high-traffic areas and doors where they can present a trip hazard.
- Connect space heaters directly to a wall socket. Do not use an extension cord or power strip as they could overheat and cause a fire. Do not plug any other electrical device into the same outlet as the heater.
- Place space heaters on flat, level surfaces. Never place heaters on cupboards, tables, furniture or carpets as these can overheat and start a fire.
- Always unplug the heater and store the heater in a safe place when not in use.
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https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-fire-department-careful-space-heaters/269-ea789902-5e23-4b8a-8599-61a3c2eef484
