Defective Portable Heater Causes Fire That Leaves Woman and Child Dead and Leaves Infant With Severe Injuries

ByMichael Talve, CEO

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Updated onJanuary 11, 2022

Defective Portable Heater Causes Fire That Leaves Woman and Child Dead and Leaves Infant With Severe Injuries

This case involves an allegedly defective portable heater. A fire started in a row house which was the home of a twenty-three-year-old woman and her husband. The plaintiff, the woman’s husband, was in the home along with his wife and her seven-month-old brother, her three-year-old brother, who suffered from Erb’s Palsy, and the couple’s nine-month-old daughter. At the time of the fire, a portable electric heater was in use in the living room in front of the entertainment unit near the front door of the house. After the fire started, the woman re-entered the burning house to try to save her two brothers and her daughter. The woman died in the fire along with her three-year-old brother. Her daughter sustained burns to most of her body, which left her severely disfigured. The child also suffered a severe brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Can problems with the rotary switch on a portable electric heater in a house cause the heater to ignite and start a fire that leads to fatalities?

Expert Witness Response

inline imageA radiant portable electric heater works by directing infrared rays onto objects directly and this type of heater is generally used for instant heat. Most radiant portable electric heaters have a built-in safety device called a high limit control which is supposed to shut off the heater if the sensor detects too high of a temperature in the unit. The rotary switch on a portable electric heater is how the heater is turned on and off. If the rotary switch on a portable heater is defective and there are problems with the high limit control on the heater, there is the possibility that the heater may ignite and start a house fire. The high limit control is the primary safety device within the heater that prevents it from overheating. If there are defects with the rotary switch on the heater, such as an overheating defect, the switch could possibly ignite and start a fire. If there is an electrical malfunction with the rotary switch, this can cause it to overheat and it could possibly ignite and start a fire. If the high limit control on a portable electric heater is designed with a heat threshold that is too low, this can cause the device to be activated repeatedly. This repeated activation may cause the rotary switch to fracture and fail and this might later cause a fire if the unit overheats.

About the author

Michael Talve, CEO

Michael Talve, CEO

Michael Talve stands at the forefront of legal innovation as the CEO and Managing Director of Expert Institute. Under his leadership, the Expert Institute has established itself as a vital player in the legal technology arena, revolutionizing how lawyers connect with world-class experts and access advanced legal technology. Michael's role involves not only steering the company's strategic direction but also ensuring the delivery of unparalleled intelligence and cutting-edge solutions to legal professionals. His work at Expert Institute has been instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of attorneys in case preparation and execution, making a significant impact on the legal industry's approach to expert consultation and technological integration. Michael's vision and execution have positioned the Expert Institute as a key facilitator in the intersection of law and technology.

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