LAKE COUNTY — According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), winter is the time of year when home fires peak, many of which are caused by heating equipment.
Half of all home heating fires occur during December, January and February, when people are fully utilizing their heating systems, Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of communications, said. She said the public can reduce its risk of getting left out in the cold by following NFPA”s safe heating behaviors.
In NFPA”s report “Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment,” in 2009, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 58,900 reported home structure fires, 480 civilian deaths, 1,520 civilian injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage. Stationary and portable space heaters accounted for one-third (32 percent) of reported home heating fires, but nearly 80 percent of the home heating fire deaths, two-thirds (66 percent) or associated civilian injuries and half (52 percent) of associated direct property damage.
Overall, fires, injuries and damages from fires involving heating equipment were all lower than in 2008 and fit into a largely level trend throughout the past few years. The number of deaths from heating equipment was virtually unchanged, Carli said.
As temperatures begin to drop, the NFPA offers the following safe heating tips:
– All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
– Have a 3-foot, kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters.
– Never use your oven to heat your home.
– Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturers” instructions.
– Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
– Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
– Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
– 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.
– Test smoke alarms monthly.
In an effort to reduce winter fires, NFPA is partnering with the U.S. Fire Administration on a special campaign: “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires.” For more information, visit the website at www.nfpa.org/winter.
