Brandon Twp.- A space heater placed too close to combustibles is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a mobile home earlier this month.
Brandon firefighters responded at about 2:26 p.m., Nov. 11 to a home in the 4000 block of Beechwood in the Sashabaw Meadows Mobile Home Community and found a single-wide trailer with flames coming from the living room windows. No people were in the home at the time the blaze started, but two cats were missing. The home was a total loss. The family is insured.
‘It was an accidental fire, and while it is still being investigated, we believe a portable radiant space heater is the cause,? said Fire Chief Dave Kwapis. ‘It is important when using space heaters to use them properly and keep significant clearance around them to keep items from overheating and igniting.?
Combustibles include blankets, towels, clothing, papers and furniture. Kwapis said there should be plenty of space between such flammable items and a space heater. The appliances should never be left on when someone is not in immediate attendance.
‘If you use it with the manufacturer’s recommendations and keep materials away from it and maintain a safety circle, you can use space heaters safely,? said Kwapis. ‘You have to be vigilant about combustibles around the appliance.?
With the arrival of the holiday season, Kwapis also reminds residents to keep their real Christmas trees supplied with plenty of water to avoid a potential fire hazard.