Chilly weather brings an added danger for a home heating equipment fire to happen. This month we will delve into preventing home heating fires. About half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January, and February. Having a good understanding of the fire triangle is essential in understanding fire. Each side of the triangle represents one of three components needed for a fire to happen: oxygen, fuel, and heat. A fire cannot exist or be sustained unless all three are present. Our air that surrounds us contains 21% oxygen. Fuel is any material capable of burning. A heat source is what is responsible for the initial ignition of fire and is what allows fire to spread.
You may have a space heater in your home, it is close to a stack of newspapers, now we have heat and fuel. Next is oxygen – our room air is comprised of 21% oxygen. We have the makings of a fire because all three components of the fire triangle are present.
Safety Tips from NFPA
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves or portable space heaters.
- Store lighters and matches out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. Chimney fires can happen when creosotes build up. These fires burn extremely hot and getting your chimney inspected and cleaned annually is a great preventative measure.
- Remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Make sure the wood burning fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
- Install wood burning stoves according to manufacturer’s instructions. It’s best to have a professional do the installation. All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
- Install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning. If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company.
- Test smoke alarms at least once a month. To schedule a Smoke Alarm Battery Appointment with our amazing Fire Corps Volunteers, call 520-393-7505
Electric Space Heaters
In addition to the above precautions, it is important that if you have an electric space heater, choose one with a thermostat and overheat protection. It should be placed on a flat surface and have an auto shut-off that turns it off, should it tip over. Also, never plug the heater into an extension cord, it should be plugged directly into an electrical outlet.
Not all home heating fires can be prevented, however most can by following the safety tips mentioned. Again, understanding the fire triangle is key. Eliminate one of the legs of the triangle, you will eliminate a potential fire. Your Fire District family wants you all to keep warm when it’s cold outside and wishes you a safe and happy New Year!