by Jason Pallotta, Inlet Fire Dept., Assistant Chief
I know most of you enjoyed a beautiful, warm summer and early fall, but winter is just around the corner and we are now firing up our heating sources for the cold months ahead.
So, I would like to share some statistics and tips about heating your home this winter.
In a study conducted between 2008 and 2010, an estimated 50,100 heating fires in residential buildings occurred in the United States in each of those years resulting in an annual average of 150 deaths, 575 injuries, and $326 million in property damage.
The study showed that cooking was the number one cause of residential building fires, with heating coming in second.
Residential building heating fires peaked in the early evening hours between 5 and 9 p.m. with the highest peak between 6 and 8 p.m.
That 4-hour period accounted for 30 percent of all residential building heating fires. Confined fires—those fires confined to chimneys, flues, or fuel burners—accounted for 87 percent of residential building heating fires. Thirty percent of the non-confined residential building heating fires occurred because the heat source was too close to combustibles.
Now that you are aware of the statistics of home heating fires, here are some tips to help you avoid being party to one.
• Keep all combustibles at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable heater.
• Designate 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 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 off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to keep sparks contained and from flying out.
Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. That container should be kept a safe distance from your home.
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Please keep these tips in mind this winter when heating your home.
If you have any questions or concerns about this information, contact your local fire department or codes office.
You can reach me at the Inlet Fire Department at (315) 357- 6601.
And remember: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives!
