Heaters and other home heating equipment are the leading cause of home fire deaths in the United States. As expected, almost half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February.

Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard heaters and portable heaters are the most common types of heating-related residential fires.

Safety Tips 

• Keep anything that can burn at least three (3) feet away from heating equipment, such as a furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable heaters.
• Never use your oven for heating.
• Have a qualified professional install heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to code and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Never use an extension cord with a portable heater. Always plug the heater directly into a wall outlet.
• Never allow any items to cover or drape across the heaters.
• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room, and burn only dry, seasoned wood. 
• When using a fireplace, allow ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from the home.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning.
• Test smoke alarms at least monthly.

During 2012-2016, an estimated annual average of 18,100 reported home structure fires started by smoking materials, and on average of 590 people are killed annually. One out of four fatal victims of smoking-material fires is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire (NFPA).

The leading area of origin for home smoking fires in 2012-2016 was an exterior balcony or open porch.

Safety Tips 

• If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths result from fires that start in living rooms, family rooms and dens, or in bedrooms.
• Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high, out of the reach of children.
• Never smoke in bed or when feeling drowsy.
• Use a deep, sturdy ashtray. Place ashtrays away from anything that can burn.
• Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves, or other things that could ignite easily.
• Before you throw away butts and ashes make sure they are out, and dousing in water is the best way to do that.
• Never leave charging e-cigarettes unattended.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 8,200 home structure fires that were started by candles per year (2012-2016- NFPA). These fires caused an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries, and $264 million in direct property damage.

Roughly one-third (37%) of home candle fires started in bedrooms. These fires caused 30% of the associated deaths and 50% of the associated injuries.

Safety Tips

• Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Keep candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn.
• Never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle.
• Keep matches and lighters up high and out of children’s reach, in a locked cabinet.
• Use candleholders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily.
• Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
• Never use candles if oxygen is used in the home.
• Have flashlights and other battery-powered lights ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.

On average, in the U.S. there are 10,200 home fires involving grills, which causes an annual average of 10 deaths, and 160 injuries. (2012-2016- NFPA)

Most grill fires occur during the summer months. The leading ignition factors in grill fires are mechanical failure or malfunction, combustibles placed too close to the heat, and cooking left on the grill unattended (USFA 2010).

Safety Tips

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
• Grills should be placed away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup.
• Never leave your grill unattended.
• Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
• For gas grills, make certain the hose connection is tight and check the hoses for leaks. Turn the grill and fuel cylinder off immediately after grilling.
• If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid.
• For charcoal grills, avoid adding lighter fluid after the coals have been lit.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 45,210 home structure fires each year between 2010 and 2014 that involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. (NFPA)

Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have:

• Frequently blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers
• A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
• Discolored or warm wall outlets
• A burning or rubber smell coming from an appliance
• Flickering or dimming lights
• Sparks from an outlet

Safety Tips

• Look around your home for hidden electrical hazards.
• Check electrical cords to make sure the wires are not damaged, cracked, or loose. If the cords need to be repaired, take the item to a professional repair shop, hire an electrician or replace with a new item.
• Remove cords from across doorways or under carpets.
• Keep children away from electric cords and outlets.
• Make sure all receptacle outlets and switches have faceplates.
• Light bulbs should have a shade or globe for protection.
• Plug only one heat producing appliance such as toaster, coffee maker, iron or microwave oven in each outlet to prevent wiring from overheating.
• Keep ladders away from overhead power lines, including the electrical service into your home.

In 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year. These fires resulted in annual losses estimated at 13 deaths, 440 injuries, and $238 million in direct property damage.

The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them.

Safety Tips

• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
• Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating.
• Clean lint out of the vent pipe, or have a dryer lint removal service do so, once a year or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry.
• Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.
• Keep the area around the dryer clear of things that can burn, like boxes, cleaning supplies, and clothing.
• Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.
• Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances, like gasoline, paint thinner, or similar solvents should be laid outside to dry, then can be washed and dried as usual.