FEBRUARY 15, 2015
CALDWELL COUNTY, NC (WBTV ) -
An effort to stay warm in Caldwell County landed one man in
the hospital and caused a small explosion.
Around 10 p.m. Saturday there was an explosion at a mobile
home on Antique Lane in Caldwell County.
Collettesville Fire chief Larry Price says the man was using
a propane heater, designed for outside use, to keep warm after the home lost
power because of the wind.
Price says the man hooked up a heater with an additional
second tank nearby, causing it to overheat and explode. The small explosion had
enough power to blow out walls and windows of the home.
Officials say the man was able to use a fire extinguisher to
put out the flames before firefighters arrived. He told crews he got out of the
house by shooting out a window and crawling out.
According to crews, the resident was conscious and talking
when they got on scene, but he suffered second and third degree burns and was
taken to the hospital.
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Dangers of Propane
& Kerosene Heaters
Overview
Propane and kerosene heaters provide portable heat for
taking the chill out of a single room.
These heaters can be less expensive to operate than electric
heaters, which makes them attractive to homeowners trying to cut the costs of
staying warm.
But if you use kerosene and propane heaters, you should be
aware of certain dangers associated with portable fuel heater use.
Fire
The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, reports
that as of 2010, space heaters caused 32 percent of all home heating fires and
79 percent of all deaths from home heating fires.
The main cause of these fires are space heaters that
homeowners placed too close to flammable objects such as curtains or
upholstery. Consult the manufacturer's
instructions to determine the minimum safe clearance for your heater.
The NFPA recommends a minimum distance of 36 inches on all
sides between the heater and anything flammable.
Explosion
Using gasoline instead of propane or kerosene in your heater
could result in explosion, according to the Consumer Products Safety
Commission.
If you have a kerosene heater, use only 1-K grade kerosene.
Store the kerosene away from the house in a container used only for kerosene to
avoid any confusion with gasoline.
Improperly maintained heaters could also explode or catch
fire, so follow the manufacturer's instructions for regular cleaning of the
heater's wick and chimney.
Don't allow soot to build up in the heater. Take the heater
outside to refill it, but don't overfill it.
Don't smoke while handling fuel or refilling your heater.
