Officials warn about space heater safety after $180K fire
by Ryn Gargulinski on Oct. 24, 2008, under Local, SpecialA five-minute trip to get coffee cost a man his home and everything he owned, a Tucson Fire Department spokeswoman said.
The man, who lived in a mobile home park in the 1300 block of West Ajo Way, turned on a space heater Thursday morning, then ran to the store for a cup of joe, Capt. Trish Tracy said.
When he came back, the home was in flames, she said. Firefighters arrived by 7:40 a.m. and had the fire under control in nine minutes. No one was injured.
The estimated damage was $180,000, which included the cost of the mobile home and all of the man’s belongings inside.
The portable space heater, Tracy said, was placed too close to a bed.
“A space heater needs three feet of space in all directions clear of any combustible material,” she said.
The man was using a fan-type heater that may, at a glance, seem safer than traditional heaters but is just as dangerous, the captain said.
“Never leave a space heater unattended,” she said. “And it’s not a good idea to use one while sleeping. A pet could tip it over and it could start a fire.
“Heating appliances and smoking materials are the leading causes of fire deaths in residential structures.”
