Artic air brought temperatures in the single digits and teens to most of Massachusetts on Tuesday. As people struggle to stay warm during the cold snap with space heaters, fire safety officials and anti-poverty advocates shared advice on how to stay safe.
Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said space heater safety should be foremost in people's minds, especially in light of a fire Sunday in the Bronx section of New York City that killed 17 people and is believed to have started because of a faulty space heater.
"Fire moves very rapidly, especially with today's contents and furnishings," he said. "You only have a minute to three minutes to get out of the building."
He said space heaters should not be used in unoccupied rooms. He also stressed the importance of having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas, and testing them to ensure they are functioning properly.
"It's important to keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from curtains, bedding and anything else that can burn, so make sure that there's a good, clear area around them," Ostroskey said. "Make sure that they're plugged directly into the wall socket. Don't use an extension or extension cord or a power strip because the power that they draw can overwhelm those, and that's a cause of fires as well."
Though space heaters are designed for temporary use, some people who are struggling to pay bills are using these devices as their primary source of heat. John Drew, president and CEO of Action for Boston Community Development, encouraged residents in need to apply for fuel assistance through the community action agency.
Drew said he is worried the bitter cold is only adding to what he calls an "imperfect storm" of events that could lead to increased homelessness during these winter months.
"We have a world where people are trying to get through 22 months of pandemic [and] exhausted trying to survive," he said. "The people at the lower income levels in society have taken the brunt of the economic hit, and they're dealing with inflation. They're trying to hold onto housing, which is difficult. Rents are going up and we also have a doubling of the cost of energy from a year ago. We have been able to get a little bit of an increase in benefits for people, but not enough. So yeah, I'm worried. I'm very worried."
