We all know that the winter cold can be dangerous. But turning up the heat to combat the chill can also be a fire risk if heating equipment is not properly used.

Heating equipment is the second-leading cause of home fires in the North America, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). On average, NFPA research shows that heating equipment is involved in more than 60,000 reported U.S. home fires per year. These fires result in more than 500 civilian deaths, more than 1,500 civilian injuries and roughly $900 million in direct property damage. Half the fires occur during the winter months. The most home heating fire deaths (80%), injuries (67%) and property damage (52%) involved stationary or portable space heaters, including wood stoves.  

The Lillooet Fire Department is urging all Lillooet residents to help reduce the number of home heating fires in our community. Here are just a few simple ways you can decrease the risk of a heating fire in your home:

• Keep or maintain a three-foot (one-meter) space between all heating equipment and anything that can burn.
• Do not use your oven to heat your home.
• Inspect and maintain heating equipment regularly for safety.
• Stationary and portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
• Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if needed.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Interconnect all smoke alarms through the home – when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Be sure your home has both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms, also known as dual sensor smoke alarms.
• Plan and practice your home fire escape drill.

 Winter fires are preventable! For more heating fire safety advice from NFPA, visit www.nfpa.org/winter