Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) last week announced that, while only 32 percent of home heating fires involve space heaters, they are involved in 79 percent of home heating fire deaths. (This is from the NFPA report, Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment. NFPA also said in this report that heating equipment continues to be the second leading cause of home fires behind cooking and the second leading cause of home fire deaths behind smoking.

I've had personal experience with a space heater fire. When our kids were small, a small electric space heater was in use in the living on a cold winter day, and a hassock was pushed against it and started to catch fire. Fortunately I noticed the smoke, and carried the hassock into the shower and gave it a good dousing.  I was very blessed that I caught it in time. As a fire photographer over the years, I have been to a number of serious fires which were caused by heating equipment, and I am grateful that our incident was just a learning experience, not a tragedy. Thank you, Lord.

The NFPA is urging caution and asking the public to practice safe heating behaviors as the peak time for home heating fires continues.  Among their tips:

   ~ Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires
         and space heaters.
   ~ All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn,
        such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away
        from heating equipment.
   ~ Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized
        testing laboratory.
   ~ Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
   ~ Use and purchase portable space heaters with an automatic
        shut off so if they’re tipped over they will shut off.
   ~ Place space heater on solid, flat surface.
   ~ Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into
        an extension cord.
   ~ Inspect for cracked, damaged, or broken plugs
        or loose connections. Replace before using.