A faulty portable heater ignited a fire in a north Minot storage unit Friday, Dec. 19, according to the Minot Fire Department.

At 10:19 p.m., the department was dispatched to a reported storage unit fire at 3401 Main St. N., Unit C-10. The first firefighters arrived in less than 4 minutes to find heavy smoke and visible flames coming from one storage unit.

Firefighters stopped the fire from spreading to adjacent units. Salvage and overhaul operations were completed. The cause of the fire was determined to be a faulty portable heater inside the unit.

The Minot Fire Department reminds the public of the following portable heater safety tips recommended by the National Fire Protection Association:

– Plug portable heaters directly into a wall outlet; never use an extension cord.

– Use heaters equipped with an automatic shut-off feature that turns the unit off if it tips over.

– Keep portable heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including people.