Last Friday the Moose Jaw Fire Department was deployed to a vehicle blaze.

After successfully putting out the flames on the first vehicle and another vehicle nearby that also caught fire, they discovered that the point of origin may have been the block heater cord and the extension cord plugging into it. That's why Cathie Bassett, Public Education Officer with the Fire Department, is sharing some safety tips to hopefully avoid a similar situation in the future. 

"Officials recommend using a three-wire, three-pronged extension cord that is rated for the outdoors to plug into block heaters and do not use more than one extension cord, because the more cords you have plugged into each other it does result in more electrical problems in the long run," explained Bassett. "Motorists are reminded to check cords to make sure they're not cracked or frayed and not to drive over extension cords."

She noted that there are a variety of reasons your cords could become faulty and residents need to be cautious. 

"It's the power cords that feed them that get neglected, or the extension cord that we're using to power it is not matched for the appliance. During the winter many vehicle fires are the result of worn extension cords and block heater cords when there is no longer a good connection or cords are damaged. This can result in electrical arcing and fire in the engine compartment."

Bassett also noted that the amount of time you have your vehicle plugged also plays a role in fire prevention, and there are different lengths of time depending on which association or organization you go by. 

"The National Research Council suggests plugging in your car for colder weather two hours before you drive. CAA suggests that where places get really cold like here in Saskatchewan, sometimes two hours isn't long enough, this is especially true when it's minus 30 (degrees) for older vehicles. They recommend you plug in your car for at least four hours, now any more than that you're just wasting energy."

She said residents should also be keeping their vehicles tidy and taking out any flammable fluids or materials each night. In the case of a fire, this prevents the situation from worsening.