The Johnson City Fire Department has determined a house fire that injured one person was started by a portable space heater.
At about 5:40 a.m. Nov. 18, the fire department was dispatched to a house fire at 190 Baldwin St. in the Village of Johnson City. The caller’s roommate, according to the fire department, was still inside the residence and was unable to get out.
At the scene, fire crews reported visible smoke showing from the two-story, single-family home. A rescue team entered the building and, while working in “zero-visibility and rapidly deteriorating conditions,” firefighters were able to find and recover the entrapped victim.
The person was transported by Union Ambulance to UHS Wilson Medical Center. As of Nov. 18, there was no update on their condition.
An investigation revealed the fire was caused by a portable space heater that had been plugged into a power strip, which was plugged into another power strip.
In a news release, fire officials urged the public to exercise caution when using a space heater in the colder months. Combustibles should be kept a safe distance away from heaters and should always be plugged directly into an outlet.
The Johnson City Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Johnson City Police Department, City of Binghamton Fire Department and Union Ambulance.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: One person trapped in Johnson City house fire caused by a space heater
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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