Two people were left without a place to stay Friday after a fire ripped through a North End home.

Firefighters called to the home in the 5000 block of North Visscher Street just before 4:20 a.m. found heavy smoke coming from the back of the one-story home. They doused the flames. No injuries were reported.

Investigators suspect that an electrical malfunction in a portable space heater sparked the blaze, the department reported. The fire left $35,000 in damage to the property and its contents.

Firefighters advise citizens to keep the following in mind when using space heaters:

 • Use devices with tip-over and overheat protection.

 • Keep heaters at least 3 feet from combustibles.

 • Plug heaters directly into outlets, not extension cords.

 • Do not leave heaters on and unattended. Turn them off when you leave.

Stacey Mulick:stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com