Winter

STAYING SAFE DURING THE WINTER

Although trending downward since the early 1980s, heating fires remained the second leading cause of home fires in 2021. An estimated 32,200 home heating fires were reported to fire departments within the United States. These fires caused an estimated 190 deaths, 625 injuries and $442 million in property loss.

Facts About Home Heating Fires

Home portable heater fires were only 3% of all home heating fires annually for 2017-2019, but they accounted for 41% of fatal heating fires in homes.
From 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 34,200 heating fires in residential buildings were reported to U.S. fire departments each year.
Heating was the second leading cause of all residential building fires, following cooking.
Residential building heating fires peaked in the early evening hours from 5 to 9 p.m., with the highest peak from 6 to 8 p.m.
Residential building heating fire incidence peaked in January at 20% and declined to the lowest point during the months of June, July and August.
Confined fires, specifically those fires confined to chimneys, flues or fuel burners, accounted for 77% of residential building heating fires.
The heat source was too close to combustibles in 27% of the nonconfined residential building heating fires.
Smoke alarms were present in 56% of nonconfined heating fires in occupied residential buildings.

Home Heating Fires – Safety tips

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.
Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Never use an oven to heat your home.