Space heater blamed for furniture store fire

Gulfport firefighters were called to the Furniture Ranch just before 3pm. A steady stream of smoke rose from the roof of the structure.

Fire in the back of that building caused extensive damage inside. There was also heavy smoke damage next door in a space leased by FEMA. J&J Hair Design, which leases space in the same building as the furniture store, had less severe smoke damage.

One employee of the furniture store was taken to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation.

A part owner of the buildings, Margaret Jean Kalif, told WLOX News the fire may have been caused by a space heater.

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It bears repeating: space heaters should have a smoke shutoff or be attached to power strips with a smoke shutoff