Winnipeggers urged to be cautious after block heaters potentially cause 3 fires

Block heaters are a near non-negotiable in the dead of winter as plugging in your car can be the difference between hitting the road or being left out in the cold; however, improper use can spark even bigger problems.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) battled three separate blazes Saturday.

It's believed all three fires were likely caused by similar issues – block heaters and extension cords.

"We don't have definitive investigation results, but it does appear that we've had a number of fires due to issues with block heater cords and extension cords,” said WFPS Deputy Chief Scott Wilkinson.

A properly working block heater helps keeps the engine's oil and coolant warm when the temperatures dip.

"An important part of the car is starting, especially when it's super cold,” said Marco Palumbo, owner of Maxim Muffler & Auto.

“It's very hard on the starter. It takes a lot of power out of the battery."

However, if the cord or plug is damaged, Palumbo says your car could be toast.

"That creates a tremendous amount of heat which melts wires, which creates a possible flame,” he said.

“And unfortunately, with cars, there's lots of things that can catch fire.”

Palumbo says to start, you should look for flimsy, frayed, or fractured cords, along with black marks on the plug.

He says it's typically an easy fix.

"Unfortunately, though, people change just the ends and don't really test the circuit,” he said.

“So testing the circuit is critical because people have a false sense of security by just changing the end, and meanwhile, there could be a problem further up where it may not be as obvious."

The WFPS says these types of fires do occur in winter.

"They’re extremely preventable fires,” Wilkinson said.

“People should have their block heaters inspected, those cords inspected and checked if there's any damage or any usage there. They're not expensive. They can be replaced."

Wilkinson is also urging people to never plug in vehicles parked inside garages.

"The problem comes in is when the fire starts in a garage,” he said.

“Often, they're not monitored. People are asleep overnight. Those fires can grow quite quickly and extend to the structure and put people's lives at risk versus a vehicle that's out on the driveway.”

No injures were reported in any of the fires.

Manitoba Public Insurance says since 2020, there have been 95 block heater fires reported to the crown corporation.