Winter Warmth: A Guide to Winter Fire Safety

12/14/2023 (Permalink)

Did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths?

Did you know that nearly half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January & February?

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Fire departments responded to an estimated average of 44,210 fires involving heating equipment per year from 2016-2020, accounting for 13% of all reported home fires during this time, and these fires resulted in annual losses of 480 civilian deaths.

Heating fire facts:

Based on 2016-2020 annual averages:

• Space heaters were the type of heating equipment responsible for the largest shares of losses in home heating equipment fires, accounting for one-third of the fires, but nearly nine out of ten deaths and four out of five of the injuries in home fires caused by heating equipment. 
• Fires originating in a kitchen or cooking area accounted for the largest share of home heating fires (17%). 
• While the larger (non-confined) fires involving fireplaces or chimneys were involved in fewer than one in ten fires caused by heating equipment (7%), they caused just over one-fifth of the direct property damage (22%).
• Nearly half of the heating equipment fires (46%) occurred in the three-month period from December through February.

With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening. Be warm and safe this winter!

• 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 three-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 the local codes and manufacturer’s 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 at least once a month.

Source: NFPA Research Division 

If you experience fire damage this winter SERVPRO of Jonesboro is here to help. Call us, 24/7, we're ready to respond to your emergency restoration needs. We hope you have a warm and safe winter season. Please follow these tips to ensure you and your loved ones safety. 

SERVPRO of Jonesboro
3025 Peabody Drive | Jonesboro, AR 72404
870-934-0501 Office | www.SERVPROjonesboro.com