Room Heating Equipment Fire Safty

Supplemental Room Heating Equipment

The use of supplemental room heaters, such as wood and coal burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electrical heaters, has decreased, along with the number of residential fires.

Even though there has been a decrease in fires associated with supplemental heaters, it is important to remember that about 120,000 residential fires still occur annually with the use of these heaters, or about 22 percent of all residential fires. These fires kill more than 600 people. Annually there are thousands of contact burn injuries and hundreds of carbon monoxide poisonings.

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces Fire Safety Recommendations

• Do not use wood burning stoves and fireplaces unless they are properly installed and meet building codes.
• Follow the label instructions on the stove which recommends an inspection twice monthly. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood burning stoves. Creosote builds up in chimney flues and can cause a chimney fire. To cut down on creosote buildup, avoid smoldering fires.
• Have flues and chimneys inspected before each heating season for leakage and blockage by creosote or debris.
• Open the fireplace damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. Never close the damper if the ashes are still warm. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the home.
• Use a code-specified or listed floor protector. It should extend 18 inches beyond the stove on all sides. This will reduce the possibility of the floor being ignited.
• Follow the instructions on the stove label for proper location of the stove from combustible walls.
• Never burn trash in a stove because this could over heat the stove. Gasoline and other flammable liquids should never be used to start wood stove fires. Gasoline will ignite and explode. Use coal only if designated as appropriate by the manufacturer.

YES    NOWood Stoves and Fireplaces Fire Safety Checklist

|_____|   |_____|The wood stove or fireplace has been installed according to existing building codes and manufacturer's instructions.

|_____|   |_____|The chimney and stovepipe are checked frequently during the heating season for creosote buildup and are cleaned when necessary.

|_____|   |_____|The stove sits on a non-combustible or on a code-specified or listed floor protector.

|_____|   |_____|Combustibles such as curtains, chairs, firewood, etc., are at least three feet away from the stove.

|_____|   |_____|Only proper fuel is used in the stove.

|_____|   |_____|A metal container with a properly fitted lid is used for ash removal.