LEE COUNTY, Fla. – As temperatures in Orange Harbor Co-op and RV Resort drop under 60 degrees on Friday, locals are finding ways to stay warm.
Residents at this mobile home park, located off Palm Beach Boulevard, are gathering inside the clubhouse to enjoy a meal and escape the cold.
Bill Michals, vice president of the Orange Harbor Co-op and RV Resort, described the weather as “definitely cold.”
Ron Steiner, an RV host at the resort, shared his experience, “I’m from Wisconsin, and you’d think a Wisconsinite would be a little bit more used to this kind of weather, but my skin’s a little thinner after being here for 15-16 years,” he said.
Michals explained how he and his wife are keeping warm without using their gas furnace due to a no-open-flame policy. “We have a little teeny space heater that I keep on top of the stove we can’t use, so it works out just fine,” said Michals.
Michals emphasized the importance of safety when using space heaters.
“Safety is important. If you’re cold and you put on something that’s going to risk your life, you’ve failed. In my mind, if you don’t make it till tomorrow, what’s the point of being warm today?” he said.
Tice Fire District Fire Chief, Ted Ross, advised turning your space heater off when not in use or when leaving the home, keeping it away from flammable items like curtains, and ensuring it is stable to prevent it from being knocked over.