10 Heating Safety Tips

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months. In fact, half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February. According to the NFPA's Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment report, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 66,100 reported home structure fires in 2008, resulting in 480 civilian deaths, 1,660 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage. With this in mind Central Alexander/Taylorsville Fire Department would like to give you a few simple reminders to make sure you winter season is safe and warm.

1. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, or portable space heaters.
2. Never use your oven to heat your home.
3. Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
4. Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
5. For fuel burning space heaters do not fill them while they are hot, do not overfill them, and make sure to use the factory recommended fuel.
6. Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
7. Test smoke alarms monthly, replace the batteries twice a year, and make sure that you have at least one smoke detector on every floor.
8. Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in every home.
9. Burn only hard wood in a wood stove or fireplace that is clean and dry. Never burn plastics, garbage or wood that has been treated with a preservative, paint or other chemicals.
10. When using a space heater, never use an extension cord, never hang items to dry above the heater and never leave the space heater unattended.

So go ahead, grab a blanket and a book and curl up by the fire, just be smart and stay safe.

For more information visit our website at www.taylorsvillefire.org.