Fall fire dangers: Joplin firefighter urges caution with heaters, fire pits

While cooler, fall-like temperatures have yet to settle into the area, the Joplin Fire Department is warning you about two common fall fire hazards: portable heaters and backyard fire pits.

Joplin firefighter Dustin Lunow told Newstalk KZRG that portable space heaters should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet and never into an extension cord.

"They pull too much amperage through that line," Lunow said. "Those extension cords will start to heat over time."

He said extension cords should also never be run underneath rugs, where heat can build without being noticed. Overloaded extension cords and cords being used as permanent wiring can create a serious fire risk.

Lunow said many newer space heaters are equipped with tip-over protection that automatically shuts the unit off if it falls. Older heaters may continue operating after being knocked over, potentially heating nearby materials until they ignite.

Fire pits bring another set of risks.

Lunow recommends keeping a garden hose or fire extinguisher nearby whenever one is being used. He said a trip, fall, or blanket getting too close to the flames can turn an evening around the fire into an emergency within seconds.

He also issued a particularly strong warning against using gasoline to start a fire.

"I can tell you some of the worst calls of my career involved somebody using gasoline on a fire," Lunow said. "That is a very bad idea."

He recommends commercially produced fire starters or starter logs instead.