Firefighters recently responded to an apartment fire that critically injured one man and injured ten others. The fire was caused by a space heater that was left on too close to a bed.
The apartment on fire was on the first floor of a Brooklyn apartment complex. When emergency services arrive on the scene, neighbors told the firefighter that people were trapped inside the apartment in which the fire started. When the rescuers entered the home, two people were found on the floor, overwhelmed by the black smoke that had filled the rooms. Rescuers went back and found an elderly man in a back room of the apartment unconscious in the doorway with his pajamas on fire.
The New York City Fire Department Commissioner has stated: “Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the winter months. Educating yourself to these dangers will keep you and your loved ones safe and warm.” Here are some tips the NY Fire Department has offered about safely staying warm:
- “Space heaters should be at least three feet from anything that can burn and should always be turned off when leaving a room or going to sleep. Space heaters are temporary heating devices and should only be used for a limited time each day.
- Never use an extension cord with a space heater. Space heaters should be plugged directly into an outlet.
- Never use a space heater with a frayed or damaged cord, even for a small amount of time.
- The use of kerosene heaters is illegal in New York City.
- Never use the kitchen oven or gas range to heat your home or apartment. This could lead to an accumulation of dangerous levels for carbon monoxide, which can lead to serious illness, or even death.
- Use electric blankets only if they have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark and are less than 10 years old. Blankets that are 10 years or older account for 99% of all electric blanket fires.
- Only use electric blankets with an emergency shut off switch. Electric blankets should not be used when sleeping.
- Never use an electric blanket with frayed or broken cords or scorch marks.
- Avoid tucking an electric blanket in at the sides of the bed and avoid placing other blankets on top of an electric blanket when in use.
- Never place an electric blanket on a baby, small child or anyone with physical limitations that prevents them from turning off the blanket.
- Check on your neighbors when the temperature is below the freezing mark, especially the elderly and those with pre-existing health problems
- Call 311 to report lack of heat or hot water in your apartment or home.”
Read more tips about staying warm during the winter months. Pipes tend to freeze during the cold months and have the potential to burst. Learn what to do if your pipes freeze.
Tags: brooklyn apartment fire, heating your home safely, space heater