Naperville, IL – As cold temperatures continue across northern Illinois, fire officials are reminding residents to use space heaters safely to avoid preventable house fires this winter.
According to the Naperville Fire Department, one of the most common and dangerous mistakes is plugging space heaters into power strips or extension cords. Many standard power strips are not designed to handle the high electrical load required by space heaters, increasing the risk of overheating, melting, and fire ignition.
Fire officials warn that space heaters should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet. The department shared a safety graphic this week illustrating how overloaded power strips can quickly overheat, potentially igniting surrounding materials and causing a fast-spreading fire.
The warning applies to homes and apartments across DuPage County and the greater Chicago metro area, where colder weather often leads residents to rely on portable heating devices to supplement central heating systems.
In addition to avoiding power strips, the Naperville Fire Department recommends keeping space heaters at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, bedding, and other combustible materials. Heaters should always be turned off when leaving a room or going to sleep, and only models with automatic shut-off features should be used.
Fire officials also caution against using older or damaged heaters and advise residents to regularly check cords for fraying or exposed wires. Smoke alarms should be working on every level of the home, especially during winter months when fire risk increases.
The department’s reminder comes as local fire agencies across Illinois report seasonal increases in residential fires linked to heating equipment during colder periods.
Residents are encouraged to review fire safety guidelines and share reminders with family members, especially those living in older homes or multi-unit buildings.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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