SAFETY TIPS 
Winter Heater &
Fire Safety
December, January and February are the leading months
for U.S. home fires and home fire deaths. On
average, more than one-third of home fire deaths in the United States occur
during winter months.
I.
HEATING SOURCES -
Heating-equipment
fires are the second leading cause of fire deaths in American homes and the
biggest fire culprit during the months of November through February.
Taking simple safety precautions could prevent most of these home fires.
Below are some specific fire-prevention tips to keep in mind when heating
your home.
§
Portable & Other Space Heaters can be fueled by electricity, natural gas, liquid
or solid fuel. All must be kept at
least three feet from anything that can burn, including furniture, bedding,
clothing, pets and people. Space
heaters should not be left on when you are not in the room or when you go to
sleep. Children and pets should be
supervised when space heaters are in use. Ensure
everyone is aware of the high fire hazard associated with drying clothing or
placing combustibles over heaters.
§
When using
Portable Kerosene Heaters or other liquid-fueled space heaters, always use
the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never
use gasoline or any other substitute, because the wrong fuel could cause a
serious fire. Before using kerosene
heaters, clean the wick and adjust it according to the manufacturer’s
specifications. Operating and
safety instructions included in the original package should be reviewed.
In addition, safety warnings printed on the heater should be closely
followed. Kerosene heaters are
designed to use only 1-K or “water clear” kerosene as fuel. Care must be exercised to insure that gasoline is never
accidentally placed into the heater’s fuel tank. Gasoline in the fuel tank of a kerosene heater can lead to a
rapidly spreading, potentially fatal fire.
§
For Fireplaces and Wood Stoves have your chimney inspected by a professional and,
if necessary, cleaned prior to the start of winter. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns,
builds up in chimneys and can cause chimney fires.
To reduce the buildup of creosote in your chimney, you should burn only
dry, seasoned wood and avoid slow burning, smoky fires.
Always protect your home and your family by using a sturdy fireplace
screen when burning fires. If you decorate your fireplace with Christmas stockings or
other seasonal decoration, don’t burn fires in it.
Light a fire using only a small quantity of paper and kindling.
Never use flammable liquids to kindle a fire.
Store flammable liquids in approved containers well away from any area
where a wood stove or fireplace is in use.
Use only the proper type and amount of fuel.
Burning trash or large amounts of paper or twigs can “over fire” your
stove and ignite creosote in the chimney.
Create a three-foot safety zone around your stove.
Keep furniture, clothing and anything else that can burn at least three
feet from the stove or fireplace. Never
leave small children in a room where a wood stove is in use.
Wood stove users should dispose of ashes in metal containers with
tight-fitting lids and set the container only on a noncombustible surface.
Never dispose of ashes in a trash container.
II. HOLIDAY TIME - The
winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, lots of
entertaining and an increased risk of fire.
In recent years, nearly 600 fires per year have been started by the
ignition of Christmas trees. Follow
these fire prevention tips to help keep your family safer during the holidays.
§
Holiday Lighting
- Be sure candles are placed in sturdy, non-combustible holders and are kept
well away from decorations and other combustible materials.
Don’t display lighted candles in windows or near exits in case you need
these to escape. Under no
circumstances is it safe to use candles to decorate Christmas trees!
§
Christmas Trees
– For live tress, choose one that is fresh and mount securely in a stand
designed not to tip. Place the tree
away from heat sources and exits, and water constantly.
If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as
fire-retardant. Replace any frayed
or damaged cords immediately. If
you have a metal tree, use only battery-operated lights or none at all.
III.
GENERAL FIRE SAFETY - One of the best ways to protect yourself and family
from a house fire is by having working smoke detectors in your home.
By providing early warning of a fire, smoke detectors add critical
seconds that can make the difference between life and death.
Fire officials attribute the 2/3 decrease in fire deaths in the US during
the last 10 years primarily to the increased use of smoke detectors.
At the same time, officials say that the majority of residential fire
deaths that continue to occur happen in homes and apartments without working
smoke detectors.
Follow
these tips to keep you, your family and your belongings safe from fire:
§
Install a
smoke detector on each level of your home and outside each sleeping area.
§
Test
detectors at least once a month to ensure that they are working properly.
Batteries in battery-operated detectors should be changed at least once
yearly or whenever a detector “chirps” to signal low battery power.
§
Never
“borrow” a smoke detector’s battery for another use. A disabled detector cannot save a life!
Consider
giving a smoke detector as a gift or installing one in the house of an elderly
neighbor or family in need.
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