Deadly NYC Apartment Fire Underscores the Danger Posed by Space Heaters

Culture + LifestyleDeadly NYC Apartment Fire Underscores the Danger Posed by Space HeatersThe portable units cause 80% of heating-fire deaths and disproportionately impact poorer communities; but education can help reduce the risks

By Dan Avery

January 11, 2022

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The damaged windows of an apartment building the day after a deadly fire in the Bronx, New York killed 17 people.  A space heater is to blame.ED JONES

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The deadly five-alarm fire Sunday morning that killed 17 residents, including eight children, in a Bronx high-rise has been linked to a faulty space heater, according to the New York City Fire Department. Even though the heat in the building, designated Section 8 affordable housing, was operating, officials say the portable heater had probably been running for several days straight.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, space heaters are responsible for more than 25,000 residential blazes and over 300 deaths each year. Between 2014 and 2018, they accounted for 80% of heating-fire deaths, according to the National Fire Prevention Association, and caused some 6,000 burn injuries and emergency room visits each year associated with touching their hot exterior.

These devices are often found in lower-income homes where other heating options are malfunctioning or insufficient, or central heating is too costly to install. According to a New York City housing survey, poorer neighborhoods in the Bronx and northern Manhattan are far more likely to rely on supplemental heat sources like space heaters, The New York Times reported.

“One of the key aspects is to make sure that vulnerable populations are reached,” Bryan Hoskins, a professor of fire safety and protection at Oklahoma State University, told Architectural Digest about preventing future tragedies. “The fire occurred in a building that primarily housed new immigrants from West Africa,” Hoskins said. “Making sure that community leaders convey information to their communities is the best way to ensure there is buy-in.” He also added, “It is important to explain what the risk is and what are the actions that should be taken.”

Space heaters commonly run on electricity, propane, natural gas, or kerosene, with an output ranging between 10,000 and 40,000 BTU per hour. Electric space heaters are more expensive than combustion models but, due to the lack of carbon monoxide emissions, are the only unvented models safe to operate inside the home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A major issue associated with electric models, though, is the use of extension cords. Units should be plugged directly into the wall outlet and “never connected to an electrical extension cord or an electrical power strip,” according to the DoE. Older models can overheat, especially if left on overnight, and they lack safety features like an automatic shut-off if they tip over.

Experts recommend keeping any space heater on a hard, flat surface—not a rug or carpet—at least three feet from anything flammable.