When the temperature drops, residents will sometimes use portable heating devices to help keep their homes warm. While many are anxious to get their units up and running quickly, safe measures and precautions should always be taken to ensure a safe, warm home through the upcoming winter. Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year round.

Fire Hydrants
The Fire Department urges all property owners, lessees, and renters to clear snow away from any fire hydrants in front of their buildings when covered in snow. Delays in firefighters locating hydrants and getting water on a fire will endanger the lives of both firefighters and civilians.

Space Heaters
Residents that utilize wall space heaters or other heating devices should remember to pull all furniture and other combustible items at least three feet away from any heating device. Space heaters are temporary heating devices and should only be used for a limited time each day and should never be connected to an outlet with an extension cord. When not in use, be sure to unplug the unit and let it cool down if you will be storing the unit. Keep a window ajar or the door open in a room where an un-vented heater is in use. Never use heaters to dry clothing or other combustibles. Electric heaters with frayed or damaged cords should never be used. Young children should be kept away from any appliance that has hot surfaces that can cause burns.

Fireplaces
Before using the fireplace for the first time in a season, make sure the flue is open. The flue is a trap door that keeps heat out in the summer and cool air from coming in when the fireplace is not in use. You can check it by looking up the chimney to see if you are able to see daylight. If there are any obstructions, remove them. If not removed, these obstructions will cause carbon monoxide to back up into your home. Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless and invisible gas. Artificial logs made from wax and sawdust should be used one at a time. Pressure-treated wood should not be burned in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can make you sick. Never leave a fireplace unattended. Chimneys and vents should be inspected and cleaned annually. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned when necessary by a professional chimney sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Creosote builds up in connectors and chimney flues and can cause a chimney fire. Don't burn newspapers or other trash in a fireplace because they burn too hot and can ignite a chimney fire.

Gas or Electric Furnaces
Gas or electric furnaces that have not been used for several months will most likely have a build-up of dust and dirt on heating elements. This can cause a burning smell and even a light haze of white smoke when first operated for the season. This smell and haze are not harmful, and will take only several uses before all the dust and dirt on the heating unit are burnt away. To be safe, try to run the furnace on a warm day while opening all windows so the smell can escape. If the smoke turns black and the furnace starts to rumble leave the building immediately and call the fire department by dialing 911.

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test your home smoke alarms at least once per week. Do this by pressing the test button on the unit. Some newer models also feature the ability to test the unit with a flashlight as well. If you are unsure as to whether your unit has this feature, check your operations manual or consult the manufacturer.

If you do not have one already installed, install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless, invisible gas, which is absorbed by the human body 200 times faster than oxygen. Carbon monoxide will cause people to fall into a deep sleep and cause death. Gas fireplaces, gas stoves, barbecues, gas furnaces, automobiles, propane appliances and any other device that produces a flame will produce carbon monoxide.

Coal and Wood Burning Stoves
Use coal only if specifically approved by the stove manufacturer. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire since it might explode or flare up. Never use gasoline in kerosene heaters. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire since it might explode or flare up. The directions on artificial logs made from wax and sawdust say they should be used one at a time in fireplaces and never used in wood stoves. This is because the heat can melt the log causing it to flare up or leak burning liquid from the appliance. Pressure-treated wood should not be burned in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can make you sick.

Barbecues
Barbecues should never be used indoors or as a heating device. Barbecues produce large amounts of carbon monoxide.

 

Facts & Figures*

In 2006, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 540 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and $943 million indirect property damage. The estimated home heating fire total is roughly one-fourth (27%) thesize of its peak in 1982 and associated deaths are down by 55% from their 1982 peak. “Homes” refers to one- and two-family dwellings (which include manufactured homes) and apartments (which include townhouses). Associated civilian injuries are down by 62% from their 1983 peak and direct property damage adjusted for inflation is down by one-half (50%) from the 1980 peak.

Fixed (stationary) and portable space heaters, excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, but including wood stoves, accounted for one-third (30%) of reported 2006 U.S. home heating fires, three-fourths (73%) of associated civilian deaths, three-fifths (58%) of associated civilian injuries, and half (51%) of associated direct property damage. Another 25% of 2006 home heating fires identified by incident type as confined to heating equipment had no equipment or non-heating equipment under equipment involved in ignition.

Gas-fueled heating devices, particularly space heaters, pose a higher risk of death due to non-fire carbon monoxide poisoning. In 1995-1998 and 2000-2003, there were 2.7 electrocution deaths per year involving electric water heaters and 1.8 electrocution deaths per year involving electric furnaces. Heating equipment accounted for 50,110 injuries reported to hospital emergency rooms in 2006.

The substantial decline in home heating fires since 1980 is partly attributable to a decline in annual heating degree days, which reflect a trend toward warmer winters.

Creosote is a likely explanation for the 25% of home heating fires, confined or non-confined, with failure to clean as factor contributing to ignition (16,500 fires per year). Creosote is also a possible explanation for the 34% of home heating fires (22,700 fires per year), confined or nonconfined, with item first ignited coded as unclassified item (12,700 fires, or 19% of total), film or residue (5,300 fires or 8%), unclassified organic material (3,700 fires, or 5%), or waste or trash (1,100 fires or 2%).

The leading factor contributing to ignition in non-confined home heating equipment fires is heat source too close to combustibles, which contributed to 28% of the home heating fires (excluding confined fires) and 46% of associated deaths. Failure to clean accounted for 60% of home heating equipment fires confined to chimney or flue. This means failure to clean is by far the leading factor for all home heating equipment fires combined.

Excluding confined fires, structural member or framing accounts for the largest share of items first ignited (15%), followed by cooking materials (11%).

Space heaters result in far more fires and losses than central heating devices and have higher risks relative to usage.

Comparisons of different fuel or power options within central heating equipment do not show any types to be clearly and consistently better or clearly worse.

Among central heating equipment, gas-fueled units show a higher rate of fire deaths peruser household.

Gas-fueled equipment is clearly lowest among central heating equipment for fire incident rates and property damage rates.

 Liquid-fueled equipment is clearly highest for fire incident and property damage rates.

Among space heating equipment, electric-powered device (portable or fixed) show the lowest fire and fire loss rates. There are no other clear differences.

Water heaters show a very large difference in risk for fires, deaths, injuries, and damages, with gas-fueled equipment showing a higher risk than electric-powered equipment.

Excluding confined fires, the leading area of origin for home heating fires is the kitchen (20%), followed by heating room or area (16%) and living room, family room or den (9%).

Home heating fires peak in the mid-morning and in the mid-evening. Home heating fires are less common during 1:00 to 6:00 a.m. This could reflect the practice in many homes of turning down the heat overnight, allowing blankets and bedding to compensate, and of relying less on heating equipment in the middle of the day, when temperatures are at their daily highs. It also reflects the fact that sleeping occupants are not actively interacting with the equipment, which is how fires begin.

• (*From NFPA's U.S. Home Heating Fire Patterns and Trends)

Safety Tips:

• Space heaters need space. Portable space heaters need a three-foot (one meter) clearance from anything that can burn and should always be turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• When buying a new unit, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing lab. Be sure that a qualified technician installs the unit or checks that the unit has been installed properly.
• Wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, chimney connectors, and all other solid-fueled heating equipment need to be inspected annually by a professional and cleaned as often as the inspections indicate.
• Portable kerosene heaters must be fueled only in a well-ventilated area, free of flame and other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer for that device, and never use gasoline instead of kerosene. Also, be sure that portable kerosene heaters are legal for home use in your state.
• When turning a heating device on or off, be careful to follow the manufacturer's instructions. When buying heaters, look for devices with automatic shutoff features.
• Be sure any gas-fueled heating device is installed with proper attention to ventilation, and never put un-vented gas space heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms. Also, LP (liquefied petroleum) gas heaters with self-contained fuel supplies are prohibited for home use by NFPA codes.

 

Prevent Problems

* Limit exposure to cold, especially if it is windy or humid.
* Be careful if you are older, overweight, have allergies or poor circulation.
* Be careful if you smoke, drink or take medication.
* Do not smoke or drink alcohol before going into the cold.

Wear Layers of Loose Dry Clothing

* Cotton or wool underlayers.
* Waterproof top layer.
* Be sure to cover head, hands, feet and face.
* Dry or change wet clothing immediately.
* Keep moving in the cold.
* Take breaks in warm areas.
* Move to a warm area if you feel very cold or numb.
* Drink warm nonalcoholic beverages.

Know the Symptoms of Frostbite

* Feeling uncomfortably cold.
* Feeling numb.
* Feeling tingling, aching or brief pain.
* Skin turning reddish or violet black.
* Skin blisters.
* Unconsciousness.

Act Quickly if Frostbite Strikes

* Do not rub body part or apply hot water bottles.
* Do not go near a hot stove.
* Do not break blisters.
* Warm frozen body parts quickly with sheets or blankets or warm (not hot) water.
* Exercise warmed body part (do not walk on feet).
* Get medical attention if necessary.
* Elevate frozen body part and cover with sterile cloths before moving.

Know Symptoms of Hypothermia

* Feeling cold
* Pain in extremities
* Shivering
* Numbness and/or stiffness
* Poor coordination
* Drowsiness
* Slow or irregular breathing or heart rate
* Slurred speech
* Cool skin
* Puffy face
* Confusion
* Apathy

Act Quickly if Hypothermia Strikes

* Call for medical assistance.
* Give artificial respiration if needed.
* Move into a warm area.
* Get out of frozen wet clothes.
* Bundle in warm clothes or blankets.
* Drink something warm (no alcohol) if conscious.