WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — A Wilkes-Barre fire inspector laid the blame for a house fire this weekend on an electrical space heater improperly hooked up with an extension cord.
The fire on Frederick Street broke out at 6:45 a.m. Saturday. No one was home at the time.
The fire caused damage to the first and second floors of the house. No firefighters were injured.
Investigators determined a space heater sparked the fire. The blaze was ruled an accident.
The heater was plugged into an extension cord, which was plugged into a power strip, which was plugged into a wall outlet.
That, according to Fire Chief Jay Delaney, is a bad idea.
Space heaters should be plugged directly into the outlet and should be unplugged when not in use, he said. Those hoping to warm up should also avoid plugging another electrical device into the same outlet as the space heater.
Delaney said people should avoid running the cord under carpets and they should keep space heaters at least three feet away from combustible material, like curtains, bedding and furniture.
"Never leave a space heater unattended," he warned.