Space Heater Burns Down Morristown Home

A Morristown home on Saturday caught fire due to an ill-placed space heater used to keep water pipes from freezing, reported The Morristown Green.

Emergency services responded to a 11:44 p.m. call on Saturday that reported a rapidly-growing fire at 30 Rosemilt Place, according to The Green.

The blaze began in the garage, but quickly engulfed the entire structure, Morristown Fire Chief Robert Flanagan told the publication, adding that with the frigid temperature, it took firefighters an hour to extinguish the flames, according to The Green.

The homeowner evacuated without injury, but damage to his home -- and the Thunderbird parked in the driveway -- is beyond repair, states the Green.

Neighbors witnessing the scene recounted to the local news source how the flames spread throughout the entire two-story home in mere minutes.

Officials determined the fire was likely the result of the space heater placed too close to combustible materials, like paper, clothing and curtains, Chief Flanagan later explained to NJ.com.

Using space heaters near combustible items accounts for more than half of all home heating fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association. To avoid a home fire while using a space heater, the organization recommends keeping a 36-inch radius from any items that may catch flame.

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• Space Heater Burns Down Morristown Home
• Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Idle Your Car on Cold Mornings

Patch file photo