KS Fire Department Warning on Space Heaters

Feb. 11—Hutchinson firefighters have battled two house fires in two days blamed on overloaded electrical systems, prompting them to caution residents about the use of space heaters.

The latest fire was reported at 10:50 p.m. Wednesday when fire crews responded to 118 E. Ave E on a report by the residents of smoke in the house.

Firefighters detected light smoke showing from the attic and upon investigation found a fire in the walls and attic near the electrical panel, according to a report posted by Battalion Fire Chief Jeremy Unruh.

While crews made access to the fire quickly, they could not put out the fire entirely until Evergy arrived on the scene to disconnect the power to the home.

The first fire was reported at 5:44 a.m. Tuesday at 209 W. 11th Ave., again after light smoke was detected by residents in the house.

As fire crews searched in the ceiling for hidden fire, it became apparent that the fire had been burning for some time in the concealed spaces between the first and second floor, the report stated.

Fire crews performed an aggressive interior attack by using multiple handlines and were able to contain the fire in the room of origin. However, fire crews had to perform extensive salvage and overhaul to locate all hidden fire in the ceiling and the home sustained smoke damage throughout.

The Red Cross was notified to assist the occupants.

Fire investigators determined the cause of this fire also to be electrical. It was reported that the homeowners' furnace heat exchanger had cracked, which made the furnace inoperable. To heat the home, the owner used a stove and multiple space heaters. This combined approach overloaded the old wires in the home, causing the wood ceiling joists to start on fire.

" The Hutchinson Fire Department wants to send out a warning about portable heater use in the home," Unruh said in his release. "These small units can quickly overload your electrical system and cause electrical damage, which most of the time can go unseen until it is too late."

The appliances draw an incredible amount of energy and using more than one at a time can overload your home wiring, especially in older homes, fire officials warned.

"Because they draw so much electricity they are also expensive to use, so a lot of the time it's cheaper — and safer — to turn up the thermostat instead," the release said. "But if you have no other option, please only use one at a time, keep it at least 3 feet away from anything combustible, and turn it off when you're not in the room."

Fire officials also issued a warning to watch for frozen furnace exhaust vents. Because of the extreme cold, moisture in the exhaust can freeze inside the exhaust piping. Not only can this cause a fire, but if the exhaust is blocked, it will not allow deadly carbon monoxide out, which will build up in the home.

Anyone with questions may call 694-2874 to talk to fire officials.

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