With recent temperatures sitting well below -20 C in Greater Sudbury, plugging in our vehicles is a common routine.
But a New Sudbury resident is warning others to take precautions when plugging in their block heaters this winter.
Dan Mallette was at work Monday morning, when he received a call that his Mazda 3 was on fire.
Mallette said the car's block heater was plugged in two hours before the fire started. Luckily, neighbours noticed the flames and called 9-1-1.
"From what the fire department is telling us, it's something to do with the block heater," Mallette said. "We have ours on a GFI (a plug with a breaker) and it did not trip."
This is one of those few incidents where this month's frigid temperatures were a help. It's likely that thanks to the cold air, the fire didn't damage Mallette's house, the neighbour's house or his wife's car, which was parked just four feet away.
While block heaters are generally safe, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) says it's the cords that you have to worry about.
Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when plugging in your vehicle this winter:
- The block heater only needs to be plugged in two to four hours before starting the vehicle.
- If running out to your car four hours before heading to work is not ideal, you can plug it in overnight but a block heater timer is recommended.
- Always use a three-wire, three-pronged extension cord that is rated for the outdoors and a GFCI outlet.
- Check your block heater and extension cords regularly to make sure they are not cracked or frayed.
