Rob, you're saying that your friend didn't UNPLUG the heater before he set it aside??? [Linked Image]

I have two space heaters at home. One is a small fan-forced type with the nichrome heating element (about the size of a desk-top radio speaker) and the other is one of those oil-filled radiators. The only one I use now is the oil-filled radiator.

However, even if you use these "safer" heaters, you should still excersise logic and make sure that it's in good condition physically and electrically and not near anything that could melt and overheat.

And most importantly, don't plug it into a stump of #18 or #16 LAMP CORD!!!!!!!

Hell, even those heavy-duty #14 extension cords for appliances and air conditioners get warm when powering a heater for a short while.... [Linked Image]