HEATING SAFETY

During the winter months (December, January and February) heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires and fire deaths in the United States. Most of these fires are caused by human error. According to the National Fire Protection Association, home heating fires are most commonly caused by inadequate chimney cleaning, placing things that can burn too close to portable heaters, and flaws in the design, installation or use of heating equipment.

Northwest Fire/Rescue offers these tips to avoid home heating hazards:

• Select heating equipment tested and approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters’ Laboratories, and then install and maintain it according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• Have all home heating systems inspected annually and cleaned, if necessary, before the start of each heating season.
• Remember space heaters need space. Keep all heaters at least 36 inches away from anything that can burn, including bedding, wallpaper, clothing, pets and people.
• Never leave space heaters on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep. Be sure that children and pets are not left unattended around heaters.

To keep your home fireplace burning safely, have your chimney inspected every year by a professional and cleaned if necessary. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, can build up inside the chimney and cause a fire. Other fireplace tips include:

• Always use a metal fireplace screen that covers the whole opening.
• Keep paper out of the fireplace; it can float out the chimney and ignite a roof.
• Never use flammable liquids such as lighter fluid or gasoline in a fireplace.
• Keep the area around the fireplace and chimney clear of things that can burn.

Northwest firefighters also remind you that all fuel-burning appliances and fireplaces produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, toxic gas. CO poisoning kills at least 250 people each year, and sends another 5,000 to emergency rooms for treatment. To protect against CO poisoning, have appliances checked each year by a qualified technician and install carbon monoxide detectors, available at home and discount stores.