Warm Up with Fire Safety
As temperatures reach zero degrees, it is important to keep fire safety in mind as we attempt to heat our houses. According to the NFPA, half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Reduce your risk of a heating equipment fire by following some of the following tips:
Keep flammable objects at least three feet away from heating equipment such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
Have a three foot kid and pet free zone around open fires and space heaters.
Never use your oven to heat your home.
Be sure to have a professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer's instructions.
Have heating equipment and chimney's cleaned and inspected every year by a professional.
Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Always use the appropriate fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
Make sure the fireplace has an appropriate screen to prevent sparks from flying into room. Dispose of cool ashes in a metal container and keep the container a safe distance from the home.
Finally, as the Holiday Season comes to a close, it is important to dispose of your Christmas trees promptly. Trees become very dry and a fire danger, and should not be left in the home or garage, or against the home. Contact your community to find a recycling or disposal program.
