According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), space heaters account for one-third of home heating fires.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says most modern space heaters have built in safety features, but it’s important to make sure those work. “Most of the electric heaters these days, if they get tipped over, there’s a switch that will automatically shut them off. Many of them also have an internal thermostat. You need to make sure those things are working by actually testing them out before you start using it.”

Kempf reminds residents to leave heaters on a flat, hard and nonflammable surface.