By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With two space heater related fires this week, Hutchinson Fire Marshal Tony Arpin said you really need to limit how many you use in a home.
"I mean, really to be safe, just one in the room you're in," Arpin said. "Absolutely don't leave it unattended. Don't leave it on when you go to sleep. Keep it at least three feet away from anything combustible, any furniture, anything."
Arpin says they draw an enormous amount of power.
"Most of them are resistance heating, which means it's kind of like a controlled short almost, it's what makes those little wires glow red, like your toaster. That's an example of resistance heating."
It's much safer to use the thermostat in your home.
"A lot of times I tell people, it's cheaper actually, to turn up your thermostat sometimes than it is to run one of these space heaters, you know, for four, six, eight hours a day."
No one was hurt in either fire this week, but five people total had to escape quickly due to the fire calls.
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