As the temperature drops, many of us reach for that trusty space heater to keep warm.

But before you plug yours in this winter, there’s a life-saving warning you need to know.

Winter is on its way, and with it comes increased risk — including the higher chance of house fires that many people may already know about. That’s why it’s extra important to be careful and make sure all your smoke detectors are working at home.

There’s also another thing to watch out for. Something that has been warned about since 2017 but is still just as important today.

“You should never plug a heater into a power strip,” the Umatilla County Fire District #1 in Hermiston, Oregon, warned on Facebook, back in 2017.

They even posted a photo of a fried multi-outlet to prove the point. “These units are not designed to handle the high current flow needed for a space heater and can overheat or even catch fire due to the added energy flow.”

The post quickly went viral, racking up more than 17,000 shares, and hundreds of people shared their own hair-raising stories.

“I had a household one catch on fire years ago,” one Facebook user commented.

“Good thing I woke up.”

“I never knew this,” another said.

The warning isn’t just theoretical.

Can reach 500°F to 600°F

There are countless examples of firefighters being called out because of this. For instance, in 2017, the Toledo Fire Department in Ohio also issued a warning after responding to a house fire caused by a space heater. The heater had ignited a sofa, and firefighters emphasized:

“If you are operating them make sure you’re operating them in a safe manner. Make sure there’s a space at least a minimum of three feet around that space heater,” said Sterling Rahe, Public Information Officer.

Space heaters can reach 500°F to 600°F, making them extremely dangerous if left unattended or used incorrectly. Firefighters remind everyone: always plug heaters directly into the wall, never a power strip, and keep an eye on them when in use.