As temperatures begin to drop and space heaters are pulled out, there are some safety tips to keep in mind when using them.
Fire officials say to have at least three feet of clearance around the space heater, never put clothing or anything flammable near the heater, and plug it directly into an outlet instead of an extension cord.
Lieutenant Timothy Iman with the Butler City Fire Department says it also is a good idea to replace older space heaters.
“A lot of the newer space heater have tip-over switches, where if it falls over it will automatically turn it off,” Iman said. “If you’re able to get away with getting a newer one, that is more preferred because of the safety features they have now.”
Also remember to check and replace batteries in smoke detectors.
