Heater blamed for fire that destroyed Gastonia home

GASTONIA, NC – A heater being used inside a home in Gastonia is blamed for sparking an early morning fire on Harrison Avenue.

The flames caused significant damage to the home, fortunately nobody got hurt.

The Gastonia Fire Department shared pictures and video of the fire on X.  The Fire Marsha’s Office ruled the fire an accident.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, heating fires remained the second leading cause of home fires in 2021. An estimated 32,200 home heating fires were reported to fire departments within the United States. The fires caused an estimated 190 deaths, 625 injuries and $442 million in property loss.

Here are some safety reminders:

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles.

Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.