Safety Measures Reduce Risks as Home Fires Increase in Winter Months
Image via Unsplash
By Tammy Leytham
In response to deadly home fires in recent months, the National Fire Protection Association reminds the public of the increased risk of home fires during winter and gives simple ways to prevent them and stay safe.
The Federal Emergency Management Association reported 228 home fire fatalities in the United States from Jan. 1-24, 2024.
Heating equipment is the leading cause of U.S. home fires between December and January, while cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires year-round, according to the NFPA.
Electrical equipment is the third-leading cause of home fires, with three in 10 occurring between November and February. Also, more than a third (34 percent) of Christmas tree home fires occur in January.
“As the new year has unfolded, several multiple fatality home fires, including the ones that have been reported in California, Connecticut, and Minnesota, have underscored the deadly impact that these fires can have,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of NFPA Outreach and Advocacy.
Three people died in a Jan. 1 house fire in Arcadia, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reported. Four children died in a “fast-moving fire” that destroyed a Somers, Conn., home on Jan. 2, according to the New York Times. CBS News reported that an unattended candle was the likely cause of a fire in St. Paul, Minn., that resulted in the death of three children.
Carli said people spend more time indoors with the colder temperatures and fewer hours of sunlight. During winter, home heating systems are used more often, electricity consumption increases, and households tend to cook more.
The NFPA offers guidelines and recommendations to help reduce the risk of home fires:
Make sure all heating equipment is in good working order. A qualified professional should clean and inspect heating systems and chimneys annually.
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters.
Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffeemaker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets.
Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords.
Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers; a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance; a discolored or warm wall outlet; a burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance; flickering or dimming lights; or sparks from an outlet.
Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking food unattended. Set a timer for foods with longer cook times, such as those simmering or baking, to help monitor them carefully.
Clear the cooking area of combustible items, keeping anything that can burn - such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels - at least three feet away from cooking equipment.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
Create a “kid and pet-free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
Other Tips:
Smoke alarms, which reduce the risk of dying in a fire by more than half (54 percent), must be installed in all required locations and working properly.
Home escape planning is another critical element of home fire safety. People may have as little as two minutes to escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and using that time wisely is critical.
“Our goal is to make sure people know the main causes of winter home fires and how to prevent them,” Carli said. “A little added awareness, effort, and planning can go a long way toward minimizing those risks.”
NFPA offers a wealth of home heating safety tips, information, and resources to help better educate the public about ways to heat their homes safely. In addition, NFPA’s “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign with the U.S. Fire Administration promotes a host of winter safety issues, including home heating.