Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Home Heating Safety
 

KNOW THE FACTS
According to NFPA...

  • On average, there are 59,100 reported home fires per year associated with heating equipment, killing 468 people and injuring 1,592.
  • Heating fires are second leading cause of home fires. During the months of December, January, and February, heating is the leading cause of home fires.
  • Most heating fires involve space heaters, not central furnaces.
  • Installing space heaters too close to combustibles (or placing combustibles too close to them) are major causes of space heater fires.
      

SAFETY ADVICE

Electric Heater            Kerosene Heater

    • Space heaters need space. Space heaters should be at least three feet (one meter) away from walls, furniture, and anything that can burn, including people and pets.
    • Always use the proper fuel in a heater. For example, never use gasoline as a fuel in a heater designed for kerosene or oil.
    • Portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
    • Have a sturdy screen on your fireplace. A metal screen or built-in glass doors will keep sparks from flying into the room.
 

HEATING SAFETY TIPS

While the use of space heaters is legal, the Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company does not recommend their use since they pose certain hazards. If you are using or plan to use a space heater, we recommend you consider the following safety information.

  • Have chimneys and heating systems checked at least once a year and cleaned, if needed, by trained professionals. (Fires in wood-burning heating equipment are often caused by the build-up of creosote, which are deposits of unburned fuel.)
  • Always make sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.
  • Never use fuel burning appliances without proper ventilation. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane) produces deadly fumes.
  • Be sure your space heater is in good working condition. All space heaters need frequent checkups and cleaning. A dirty or neglected heater is a critical fire hazard.
  • Store kerosene, gasoline or other flammable liquids outside the home at all times.
  • Use an approved safety can for the storing of flammable liquids.
  • Never leave children unsupervised in a room with a space heater.
  • Keep young children away from space heaters, particularly when they are wearing nightgowns which can be drawn into the heater by a draft and ignited.
  • If you use an electric heater, be sure your house wiring is adequate. Avoid overloading the circuit. Avoid using extension cords. Use an approved power strip with a built-in circuit breaker.
  • Never cover a heater's cord with carpeting or furniture. This could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
  • Avoid using electric space heaters in the bathroom. Never touch an electric heater when you are wet.
  • When refueling a kerosene heater, avoid overfilling it. If cold kerosene is used, it will expand as it warms up inside your home and may cause burner flooding. This could cause flare ups.
  • Never fill your kerosene heater while it is burning.
  • When using a fuel burning heater, open a window to provide adequate ventilation.
  • Use only safety listed equipment. Space heaters should be labeled with U.L. or A.G.A certification.

PROPANE FUELED SPACE HEATERS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OPERATING A PROPANE SPACE HEATER!