Home fire safety precautions are important year-round, but did you know, about half of all home heating fires occur in the chilly months of December, January and February?

No matter how you heat your home, these simple safety tips can help prevent heating fires and ensure you’ll stay warm and cozy.

Tips to remember

General safety

• Keep flammable items at least three feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, space heaters, wood stoves, radiators and candles.
• Furnaces and chimneys should be inspected by a professional every year.
• Refrain from using an oven as a heating source.
• Never leave fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves burning when you leave your home or go to sleep.

Space heater safety

Space heaters is the heating source most often involved in home heating equipment fires.

• Make sure your space heater shuts off automatically, in case it falls over.
• Plug it directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
• Turn it off before leaving the room.

Fireplace safety

• Keep a metal screen or glass partition in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks or embers from flying out into the room.
• Do not burn paper.
• Allow ashes to cool and then remove and store them in a metal container with a lid outside, at least 10 feet away from your home.

Wood stove safety

• Place your stove on a noncombustible, fire-resistant base.
• Do not burn paper. Only burn dry wood.
• Never use flammable fluids to start the fire.

Talk to your independent insurance agent about our home coverage options in order to protect your home in the event of a fire.

Sources

National Fire Protection Association Heating Safety Tip Sheet

U.S. Fire Administration Heating Fire Safety

Insurance Information Institute Wood Stove Safety

National Fire Protection Association

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