Cold temperatures are setting in across Michigan, with some areas expected to see their first snowfall this weekend, which may lead many Michiganders to pull their space heaters out of the closet.

While small heaters can warm rooms efficiently, they are a common cause for house fires across the U.S. and experts urge people to avoid typical mistakes while using them.

" Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires . Nearly half of American families use alternative heating sources to stay warm. Heating equipment, wood stoves and portable space heaters are blamed for 74% of fire-related deaths," said the American Red Cross.

Nationally, there were 480 deaths and 1,370 injuries each year from 2016 and 2020 due to house fires caused by heating equipment, according to the Nat

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