According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA): Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires between December and February with 1/5 of all home heating fires occurring in January.

Fortunately, the vast majority of heating fires can be prevented by making sure heating equipment is in good working order and monitored carefully. NFPA offers these tips and guidelines for safely heating your home this winter:

• Heating equipment and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3-feet (1- meter) away form 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.
• Create a 3-foot (1-meter) "kid-free zone" around open fires and 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 bed.
• Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, which should be placed outside at least 10 feet away from your home.
• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
• If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call 911 or your gas company.
• Make sure smoke and carbon monoxcide alarms are located throughout the home; test them monthly to ensure that they are working properly.

For more downloadable information, please visit: NFPA Resources