Dear Sisters, Brothers, Friends,
We are in a dangerous season of the year. There are more house fires in December, January, and February than there are at any other period of time on the year. Why? Increased use of fireplaces, furnaces, even holiday candles portends misuse or malfunction of these heat producing items.
This month I hope to educate you on the prevention of fire in the home…and what to do if you are faced with an actual fire in your home.
To start, please read this list of facts and tips from the….
National Fire Prevention Association:
Heating equipment (furnaces, space heaters, fireplaces) is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.
Facts & figures
* In 2003, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 53,200 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 260 civilian deaths, 1,260 civilian injuries, and $494 million in direct property damage.
* In 2003 heating equipment fires accounted for 14% of all reported home fires (second behind cooking) and 8% of home fire deaths.
* Space heaters, excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, were involved in 26% of the home heating fires but 73% of the deaths.
* Excluding small confined fires, heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding, is by far the leading factor contributing to home heating fires (28%) and home heating fire deaths (50%).
* Chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share (40%) of home heating fire incidents. Failure to clean accounted for over half (59%) of the confined chimney and chimney connector fires.
The peak months for home heating fires are December, January and February, accounting for 43% of the fires.
Source: NFPA’s “Home Heating Fire Patterns and Trends ” report by NFPA’s John R. Hall, Jr., November 2006.
http://www.nfpa.org
National Fire Prevention Association
SAFETY TIPS
When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory and is legal for use in your community. (Some communities do not permit portable kerosene heaters, for example.)
1.Install your stationary (fixed) space heater according to manufacturer’s instructions or applicable codes or better yet, have it installed by a professional.
2.Plug your electric-powered space heater into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
Use the proper grade of the proper fuel for your liquid-fueled space heater, and never use gasoline in any heater not approved for gasoline use. Refuel only in a well- ventilated area and when the equipment is cool.
3. In your fireplace or wood stove, use only dry, seasoned wood to avoid the build-up of creosote, an oily deposit that easily catches fire and accounts for most chimney fires and the largest share of home heating fires generally. Use only paper or kindling wood, not a flammable liquid, to start the fire. Do not use artificial logs in wood stoves.
4. Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Allow fireplace and woodstove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from your home.
5. Turn off space heaters whenever the room they are in is unoccupied or under circumstances when manufacturer’s instructions say they should be turned off. Portable space heaters are so easy to knock over in the dark that they should be turned off when you go to bed, but make sure your primary heating equipment for the bedrooms is sufficient to avoid risks to residents from severe cold.
6. Do not use your oven to heat your home.
7. Make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside, that the venting is kept clear and unobstructed, and that the exit point is properly sealed around the vent, all of which is to make sure deadly carbon monoxide does not build up in the home.
8. Inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary.
9. Test smoke alarms monthly; install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
