As temperatures drop, many people use heating equipment to stay warm and comfortable at home. However, improperly used or maintained heating equipment can create serious fire hazards. Heating is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the third leading cause of home fire deaths.* Follow these heating safety tips to help keep your home and family safe.

General Heating Safety Tips

• Keep anything that can burn away from heaters. Keep items such as bedding, clothing, curtains, and furniture at least three feet away from fireplaces, portable heaters, and other heat sources.
• Create a three-foot child-free zone. Keep children away from open fires and portable heaters. Place fireplace switches and remote controls out of reach of children.
• Never use an oven to heat your home. Ovens and stoves are not designed to heat living spaces and can create serious fire and carbon monoxide risks.
• Plug heating equipment directly into a wall outlet. Never use extension cords or power strips with portable heaters or other high-wattage heating equipment. Avoid plugging multiple devices into the same outlet or circuit.
• Check heating equipment for damage. Inspect cords and plugs regularly. Replace damaged equipment and never attempt to repair damaged cords yourself.
• Have heating equipment installed by a professional. This includes furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, wood stoves, and fireplaces.
• Schedule yearly inspections and cleanings. Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional each year. Poor maintenance is a leading cause of home heating fires.**
  
• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Place smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Test alarms regularly and follow the manufacturer's instructions for replacing batteries.

Fireplace & Wood Stove Safety Tips

• Do not burn paper in your fireplace or wood stove. Paper burns quickly and can send burning pieces up the chimney, which may ignite creosote buildup.
• Put out fires before leaving or going to sleep. Spread out the embers with a fireplace poker, cover them with ash, and let them cool completely. Baking soda can also be used to help smother the fire.
• Dispose of ashes safely. Wait until ashes are completely cool, then place them in a metal container with a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from anything that can burn.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen. A screen helps prevent sparks from entering your home and keeps children and pets away from the fire.

Space Heater Safety Tips

A space heater is designed to heat a small area of your home. While convenient, space heaters can be dangerous if not used properly. Many home heating fire deaths involve portable or stationary space heaters.*

• Turn space heaters off when unattended. Turn off and unplug space heaters when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Place space heaters on a stable surface. Keep space heaters on a flat, solid surface, such as the floor. Do not place them on tables, furniture, or other surfaces where they could fall.
• Keep clothing and other items away from space heaters. Never use a space heater to dry clothes, towels, or other items. Keep anything that can burn away from the heater.
• Use the correct fuel. If you use a fuel-burning space heater, only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer.
• Choose a heater with safety features. Look for models with features such as automatic shut-off and tip-over protection.