Officials urge heater caution

WASHINGTON – As harsh winter weather sweeps across the country, the government urged consumers to use newer-model space heaters and issued other safety tips for their operation.

Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and gas generators have caused at least 45 deaths since Dec. 1, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported Monday. Generators were connected to 11 of those deaths.

Every home also should have working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm, CPSC said. Gas-powered generators should not be used inside a home or garage.