Approximately 1,200 fires a year are caused by portable electric space heaters, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
19 people, including nine children, died after a malfunctioning space heater started a major fire at a high-rise apartment building in the Bronx on Sunday, according to the New York City Fire Department. The blaze was the deadliest in New York City in three decades. Daniel Nigro, commissioner of the New York City Fire Department, said on Sunday that a total of 63 people were injured in the fire, some of whom were hospitalized in critical condition. Most of the victims suffered from severe smoke inhalation. A space heater is a device used to heat a single, small-to-medium sized area. These devices, especially portable ones, are usually electric, although some stationary space heaters require a burnable fuel, such as natural gas, propane, or wood pellets.
