Space Heater Safety Stressed During Cool Snap

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - It looks like Mother Nature finally got the memo that it was January and sent us a little cooler weather.

But while the cool change is nice, it can also be be dangerous if your using a space heater in your home or office to ward off the chill.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescues said portable space heaters account for about a third of home heating fires and four out of five home heating fire deaths.

If you're using a space heater make sure it's not too close to things that can burn like upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.

"Know how it operates before you even turn it on. Have a safe zone, an area around that space heater where children, pets, the elderly, those that may be somewhat confused, or your lanes of travel in the room where its kept back at least three feet of any of those environments," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue battalion Chief Abel Fernandez.

To help avoid a fire, never plug a space heater into an extension cord, alway plug it directly into a wall outlet.

Also, remember to turn it off before leaving the room or going to bed.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 53,600 home fires last year and 400 deaths.