As the northern hemisphere tilts away from the sun and winter’s long, dark nights settle in, millions of households reach for their space heaters. These small appliances turn icy rooms into warm havens within minutes—but behind that cozy glow lies a hidden danger that firefighters warn about every year.
Here’s the hard truth: never plug a space heater into a power strip or surge protector. It sounds simple, but every winter, homeowners make this deadly mistake. The Umatilla County Fire District #1 in Oregon shared the scorched remains of a failed power strip in a viral public safety post, warning: “You should never plug a heater into a power strip.”
The physics are unforgiving. Space heaters are high-wattage appliances designed to draw massive amounts of electricity instantly. Power strips? They’re meant for low-voltage electronics like lamps, phones, or computers. Overload a strip with a heater, and the resistance generates heat. The plastic casing melts, wires fuse, and eventually—boom—a fire can start silently in your living room.
It’s not theoretical. Firefighters across the U.S., from Oregon to Ohio, respond to devastating winter fires caused by this exact mistake. In one Toledo home, a space heater plugged into a strip ignited a couch, turning the house into flames within minutes. Modern room fires spread astonishingly fast, leaving homeowners with seconds to react.
Safe setup tips:
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