With the frigid temperatures here and staying for a while, please be careful with space heaters. Review these safety tips from the NFPA: Portable electric space heaters •Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room. •Use and purchase portable space heaters with an automatic shut off so if they’re tipped over they will shut off. •Place space heater on solid, flat surface. •Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord. •Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

Fuel burning space heaters •Always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer. •When refueling, allow the appliance to cool and refuel outside or in a well-ventilated area. •When using the heater, open a window to ensure proper ventilation. •In portable kerosene or other liquid-fueled space heaters, always use the proper grade of the proper fuel. •All new unvented gas-fired space heaters have an oxygen depletion sensor that detects a reduced level of oxygen in the area where the heater is operating and shuts off the heater before a hazardous level of carbon monoxide accumulates. If you have an older heater without this feature, replace it. •If the pilot light of your gas heater goes out, allow 5 minutes or more for the gas to go away before trying again, do not allow gas to accumulate, and light the match before you turn on the gas to the pilot to avoid risk of flashback. •If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not attempt to light the appliance. Turn off all the controls and open doors and window. Call a gas service person.