HARRISBURG, Pa. — As the coldest weather of the season sweeps through South Central P.a., people are beginning to break out their space heaters to keep their homes warm.

This is prompting fire safety experts to urge people to take proper space heater precautions.

“It’s not that we don’t want to provide those [fire] services, we just don’t want to see you hurt or even worse," said Chief Brian Enterline with the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire.

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association , U.S. fire departments responded to over 38,000 home heating equipment fires from 2019-2023. Of that, 29% involved space heaters, resulting in nearly 77% of deaths and 71% of injuries.

Chief Enterline said most space heater fires in Harrisburg are caused from people plugging their units

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