Heating Safety
According to the Illinois State Fire Marshall's Office, more residential fires are started across the country by the things we use to keep us warm. Fireplaces, wood burning stoves, space heaters, and kerosene lamps pose special threats to safety, especially when used improperly.
The following tips should help you avoid a dangerous situation.
- Put at least 3 feet of space between any heat source and anything that's flammable.
- Have a bucket of sand or water or a fire extinguisher near your fireplace.
- Don't store your kindling or matches near your fireplace.
- Have your chimney cleaned and inspected every year.
- Use a sturdy metal or glass screen in front of your fireplace.
- Never dispose of fireplace ashes in a plastic container or paper sack. Use only a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, and only dispose of ashes after they've cooled.
- Watch for frayed or hot wires on your space heater--if the wires are damaged, don't use the unit.
- Don't let children--especially toddlers or infants--near a heater.
- If you're using a liquid fuel heater, don't add more fuel until the unit has cooled down.
- Never use gasoline as a heater fuel.
- Never use substitute or low-grade fuels in heaters.
- When using a kerosene heater or portable generator, be sure the unit has adequate ventilation.