After at least three overnight fires in Maryland and Virginia, fire investigators say at least two of those fires were caused by space heaters.
“There was smoke billowing out from these two windows,” Kirk, a neighbor who lives a couple of houses down, said after he saw a house fire along gordon road in White Oak, Maryland.
One person was rescued and taken to a hospital.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said the fire erupted around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Fire investigators say a space heater on a dresser ignited nearby combustibles.
“Fifteen to 20 firemen and women in uniform right out here on the front yard,” the neighbor said. “It was quite a response.”
Montgomery Fire and Rescue responded to another fire late Friday evening. Fire investigators say they responded to Randolph Road near Judson Road in Glenmont, Maryland for calls about a house on fire.
At least one person and a dog were displaced due to the fire.
Fire leaders say the fire started in a bedroom and was caused by a small electric space heater. Fire leaders are working to determine if the space heater malfunctioned, overheated or ignited by something flammable nearby.
Following the house fires, leaders are providing these recommendations if you use or have a space heater:
- Ensure you keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
- Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet never into a power strip or extension cord.
- Don’t forget to turn them off and unplug when leaving a room or going to sleep.
Across state lines in Virginia, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a fire on Guinea Road in Kings Park West, Virginia Saturday morning for a house fire.
At least two people were rescued, and three people were taken to a hospital, along with a firefighter.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the fire.
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