Firefighters see a spike in home fires during the winter months. Some of those can be attributed to alternate heating sources that can be dangerous - like portable space heaters.
"Space heaters take up a lot of energy," said Adam Mayberry with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. "Sometimes the heating elements can get up to 600°F."
That's why it's important to always plug these units directly into the wall outlet.
"If you use a power strip or extension cord, that could overheat and start a fire," Mayberry said.
He also recommends putting the heater on a flat, level surface way from anything that could burn.
"We'd encourage anyone - as with any heating device including fireplaces and wood stoves - to make sure you have a three-foot radius around it," Mayberry said. "Keep it at least that far from combustible materials because just heat alone can sometimes start a fire."
And never leave them unattended.
"Make sure it's off when you leave the house or go to bed," he said.
The same thing goes for fireplaces, don't leave the home while they're burning and make sure the ashes are handled properly. The deadly Washoe Drive Fire, which was started by fireplace ashes, killed one person and destroyed thousands of acres.
"Get a metal ash can with a tight-fitting lid, put the ashes in it with the lid on and keep the ash can away from structures for a good three days," Mayberry said. "After that, put a little water in there, and stir it up, then you can dispose of those ashes. Properly taking care of ashes from a fireplace or stove is paramount and reduces the threat of fire."
It's also a good idea to double check you have working smoke alarms.
