A space heater is being blamed for a fire that damaged an Inverness house Thursday morning.

The fire broke out shortly before 8 a.m. at a home on East Slate Street in Inverness, according to Citrus County Fire Rescue.

When crews arrived on scene, they found smoke coming from the front of the single-family home. Firefighters found the source of the fire in the master bedroom and quickly brought the blaze under control.

No one was injured in the fire.

Investigators said they later determined the fire was caused by a short circuit in an electrical space heater cord. They believe the cord overheated because it had been routed through combustible materials and was not able to dissipate the heat generated by the space heater.

Damage to the house and its contents was estimated at $65,000. The fire damage was limited to the master bedroom, while smoke damage was found throughout the rest of the house.

Fire officials are asking people who use space heaters to keep the following tips in mind:

  • Electrical cords should not be routed beneath any materials, through doors or other openings or under mats;
  • Space heaters should be at least three feet from combustible materials, have tip-over safety devices and should be used in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations;
  • Shut off and unplug space heaters when no one is in the room.