State Fire Commissioner – Exercise Caution with Home Heating Equipment

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King asks all Georgians to exercise caution while using home heating equipment this winter. If used carelessly, heating equipment such as space heaters and fireplaces can become fire hazards.

Heating equipment is a leading cause of residential fires in the United States. Data from the National Fire Prevention Association shows that local fire departments responded to an annual average of 48,530 fires resulting from negligent heater use between 2014 and 2018. These fires resulted in 500 deaths, 1,350 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property damage.

In recognition of the risk of heating equipment, Commissioner King asks Georgians to follow the below tips for keeping themselves and their homes safe this winter.

“Have your fireplace or wood stove chimney and chimney connectors inspected and cleaned at the start of the heating season,” he said. “Creosote can build up and start a fire in your chimney. Also, use a screen or glass in front of your fire to avoid sparks flying out onto carpet or furniture.”

When it comes to using a space heater, there are a lot of dangers, according to King.

“Never plug heating equipment into extension cords. This can lead to overheating of the cord, damage to the appliance, and an increased risk of fire or electric shock,” he said. “Also, move anything that can burn (i.e., furniture, bedding, clothing) at least three feet from your heater, fireplace, or wood stove. 54% of home heating fire deaths were caused by having heating equipment too close to things that can burn.”

King also advised keeping your children and pets safely away from your portable or space heater. And always turn off your portable or space heater before leaving the room.

Finally, King said never use your oven to heat your home.

“I’ve seen this many times and the biggest concern is the heat from the oven uses up oxygen in the house. Additionally, your oven was not meant to heat your home by staying on for hours.  A gas oven may go out or burn inefficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. An electric oven was not designed for space heating.”

The Commissioner again reminds everyone to have a smoke alarm and/or a carbon monoxide alarm in their home. If you don’t have one, your local fire department may be able to provide one for you. Also, check them regularly to make sure they’re working. Again, your local fire department can send a firefighter to your home to install a smoke alarm and to make sure your existing alarm is working properly.