Take Simple Steps to Prevent Home Heating Fires

As the weather has gotten colder and more families turn to space heaters, woodburning stoves, and fireplaces to keep warm, the Montana Red Cross is reminding families to take some important steps to stay safe from home fires.

Since Oct. 1, the Red Cross has responded to 32 home fires in Montana and helped 116 people meet their most immediate needs like food, shelter, clothing, and emotional support.

“It’s not unusual to see an increase in home fires this time of year – especially home heating fires -- but there are things you can do,” said Scott O’Connell, Red Cross regional disaster officer. “Just a few minutes of your time can make all the difference.”

• Keep all potential fuel sources like paper, clothing, bedding, or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.

• Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.

• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.

• When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over.

• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

• Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

• Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year.

O'Connell said that one of the most important steps families can take is to make sure they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home and outside each sleeping area. On average, people have just two minutes to escape safely during a home fire, so the beep of a smoke alarm can save lives. Families are also encouraged to create a fire escape plan they can practice with every member of their household,d including children.

“The time to act is now,” O’Connell said. “Seven people die in home fires every single day in this country, and we want to make sure you and your loved ones are safe.”

To learn more about home fire safety, including how to prevent heating fires, visit http://www.redcross.org/homefires.