Winter Heating Hazards

1/23/2017 (Permalink)

50% of all residential heating-related fires are reported during the months of December, January and February.

Did you know 50% of all residential heating-related fires are reported during the months of December, January and February? During the winter, days are short and temperatures are low. In an effort to keep our homes and workplaces cozy, many people use alternative heat sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves. Did you know heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths? According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment fires cause an estimated $1 billion in direct property damage annually.

Keep the following safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of a heating-related fire:

• Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or a portable space heater. Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

If your property does suffer fire damage, contact SERVPRO® of North Everett/ Lake Stevens/ Monroe at 360-243-8313 to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

*Statistics and tips provided by the National Fire Prevention Association and SERVPRO® Industries, Inc.