RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - The Reno Fire Department released new details following a house fire near Wooster High School.It happened Monday, April 18, 2022 around 10:45 p.m. at 1570 Clemson Drive.Fire investigators determined the fire likely started at the exterior wall from an engine block heater and spread to the house through juniper brush that was up against the house.Firefighters rescued two adults. Both were taken to Renown. A woman is in critical condition, and a male has moderate to severe injuries, the fire department said.The Reno Fire Department warns against planting shrubs too close to your home, especially ones that are dry and have dead needles that can easily ignite and burn. The Reno Fire Department recommends spacing smaller evergreen shrubs at least 10 feet from your exterior wall and larger evergreen trees 30 feet from your exterior wall.A fire started in the area of Clemson Road and Duke Way near Wooster High School Monday night.A fire started in the area of Clemson Road and Duke Way near Wooster High School Monday night.(Dan Pyke |None of my trucks have block heaters. This info is for others. Cheershttps://www.kolotv.com/2022/04/19/house-fire/file:///C:/Users/medev/OneDrive/Pictures/Reno%20house%20fire%20photo.webp

Why would you need a block heater in Reno? I use mine in Alberta during the cold times.I guess anything can happen, but seems like a long shot for a block heater to start a fire.FYI, your second link points to a file on your own local hard drive.

BobsYourUncle wrote:Why would you need a block heater in Reno?And how could brush come in contact with any part of it?How could it even get hot enough to ignite brush?This story has more holes in it than a paper bag full of porcupines.

Most block heaters, the element is submerged in non-flammable liquid, inside a metal container. The heater can't start a fire. OTOH, they do draw a lot of power. If plugged into most cords, the cord and connections can get pretty hot. Add the fact that many people like to keep the cord coiled up, I can see a dry bush catching fire.

Why would an engine block heater in a vehicle, in a garage start a fire in a bush outside of the garage?That makes no sence at all!Unless the extention cord or the wall outlet caught fire and the garage wall whent up in flames and the burning wall burnt trough and ignited the bush outside which in turn helped to spread the fire..... get the idea?I sincerelly hoppe that both recuperate from the inguries. navegator

I’m unfamiliar with block heaters. How much power do they draw, JR?

Be careful with engine block heaters | Good Sam Community

JRscooby
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2022
NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Thanks everyone for your appreciation in my posting a news story about a safety issue to help others and keep them safe. No good deed goes unpunished. Trying to be helpful to others brings only

Some like to shoot the messenger if the story is not popular to them and for the uneducated Reno is high desert country of 4500ft where night time temperatures get down well below freezing not only in winter but also early spring so therefore some Reno diesel owners felt need for block heaters to you knuckle heads.

In the photo in the news story the truck appeared to be a GM diesel and they are on recent safety recall for block heater fire hazard. Too bad SAT.

I have no need for or desire to own a diesel but I do thank all of you for being generous taxpayers for supporting my fishing, hiking and camping etc. Life is very good indeed for this 75 year old. No serious health issues to interfere with the good times. I could care less about CAN

I think the issue is block heater caused fire. I think the story would be more accurate, and more helpful if it said the extension cord caused the fire. A 100 ft, 16 gauge cord, the electricity will just dribble out the end. A motor is likely to overheat because of low voltage, but resistance heater, like a block heater just will not get hot, but cord will.

I also question why block heater was plugged in in mild weather. If injuries where not reported I would wonder if the real cause of fire was a overheated insurance policy.
nickthehunter
Nomad II
Apr 22, 2022
****, some of these people on here are pretty dog gone amazing! They can see a picture and tell what started the fire. The fire investigators must be bilking the rest of us, no hands on needed by the pros on here.
BCSnob
Explorer
Apr 22, 2022
So what does an expert say about fires caused by block heaters?

Block Heater Fires – How to stay safe this winter
By Daniel Kabaroff, P.Eng., CFEI

Electrical plug for heater
Extension cord used to plug in heater
Damage to wiring caused by pulling on electrical plug for heater
tommyznr
Explorer
Apr 22, 2022
nickthehunter wrote:
****, some of these people on here are pretty dog gone amazing! They can see a picture and tell what started the fire. The fire investigators must be bilking the rest of us, no hands on needed by the pros on here.

This isn't about doubting the fire investigator it is about piss poor reporting as is commonplace in our news cycle. The resulting comments here were speculating on what really happened since the reporter couldn't find the gumption to find out and explain what really happened.
BB_TX
Nomad
Apr 24, 2022
It doesn’t take much current to start a fire if the cord or outlet or wiring is faulty. Think how hot a 100 W light bulb gets on less than one amp. Coincidentally a house in our neighborhood suffered a major fire two weeks ago. Fire inspector determined it started in an outlet in the garage. I did not find out what, if anything, was plugged in at the time.
Mayor30
Explorer
Apr 24, 2022
I wouldn't blame the block heater, I would blame the extension cord. If you are just using a residential electric cord plugged into a regular wall outlet that was most likely the problem. I was an electrician for 48 years. I saw this at a trucking company I worked for. There was no strain relief for the cord and over a period of time they started arching which caused the outlet and extension cord to melt. I finally convinced them to install twist lock plugs and that solved the problem.
aboxerdad
Explorer
May 05, 2022
My sister's 3 or 4 year old Chevy 2500 burned up due to a block heater fire just over a year ago. This was after the truck had been in to the dealership to deal with the recall that was out to prevent block heater fires. the fire started in the engine bay and thankfully they back their vehicles into the driveway so the house wasn't damaged.

It wasn't the extension cord or the ends. On those trucks there is an outlet in the front bumper to plug into. And the fire originated in the engine bay.
ppine
Explorer II
May 05, 2022
Why would anyone use a block heater in Reno?
Because it is going to snow next week. May 9-13.

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