According to the United States Fire Administration, more than one-fifth of residential
fires are related to the use of supplemental room heaters - wood- and coal-burning
stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electric heaters - so, before you
put logs in the fireplace or plug in the electric heater, take some precautions.
And never use an oven or stove to help heat your home.
Furnaces:
Your furnace should be checked regularly by a professional. The flame should burn
a bright, steady blue and should never come outside of the furnace. If you hear
or smell natural gas leaking from your furnace lines, evacuate the house immediately
and use a phone outside the house to call 911.
Fireplaces:
Fireplace chimneys regularly build up creosote that can ignite. Chimneys need to
be cleaned out frequently and inspected for cracks and obstructions. Never burn
trash, paper, or green wood in your fireplace because these are difficult to control
and cause heavy creosote buildup. And use a fireplace screen that is both big enough
to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks and heavy enough
to stop rolling logs.
Wood Stoves:
Inspect and clean your stovepipe and chimney on a regular basis and check monthly
for damage or obstructions. Be sure to keep combustible objects away from the stove.
Be sure to check with your local fire department and check local codes before having
your stove installed.
Space Heaters:
Only use heaters with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety listing. Read and
follow all instructions in the owner's manual. The heater should be placed on the
floor, away from combustible materials, and out of high-traffic areas. Never put
anything on top of your space heater. Never leave the heater unattended or with
unsupervised children. Electric heaters should be unplugged if you go to bed or
leave the house. Kerosene heaters should be turned off if you go to bed or leave
the house. And use only crystal clear K-1 kerosene in your kerosene heater - never
gasoline or camp stove fuel.
Carbon Monoxide:
Along with fire, another potential danger of home heating is carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you have any appliances or equipment that burn fuel such as propane or natural
gas, fuel oil, kerosene, wood, coal, pellets, etc., you should install a carbon
monoxide detector.
Smoke Detectors:
Smoke detectors save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and
on each additional level of your home. Use the test button to check each smoke alarm
once a month. Keep new batteries on hand. When necessary, replace batteries immediately.
Replace all batteries at least once a year.
Fire Extinguishers:
Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Look at the
fire extinguisher to ensure it is properly charged. Use the gauge or test button
to check proper pressure. If the unit is low on pressure, damaged, or corroded,
have it professionally serviced. Only adults should handle and use extinguishers.
Electrical Outlets:
Don't overload your outlets. Use surge protectors if multiple outlets are needed
and do not insert more than two plugs into one outlet. Never force a three-pronged
plug into a two-pronged outlet or extension cord.
This material was partly compiled from a variety of sources including the American
Red Cross, United States Fire Administration and American Gas Association.
