Now that the weather is staring to cool for winter, more and more people will be spending a greater amount of time indoors. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that home fires are more prevalent in the winter than in any other season. The reason for this greater risk is because people use unsafe heat sources, people don’t follow proper safety rules in the kitchen, and often people light more candles and fires in the winter.
Pekin Insurance states that about 900 people die in winter home fires every year and approximately $2,000,000,000 in property loss occurs from winter home fires. With winter on its way and everyone turning on their heat as well as cooking indoors, lets take a look at some safety tips to help prevent winter fires in your home this season:
- Never use the oven to heat your home.
- Always remember to turn space heaters off when leaving your home or going to sleep and never use them in bathrooms or other areas where they can come into contact with water.
- Put at least three feet of empty space between the heater and everything else.
- Furnaces should be serviced by a qualified professional once a year.
- Never use extension cords to connect appliances to the wall outlet.
- Keep all trash and combustibles away from the heating system.
- Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home, place them in a metal container away from the house.
- Don’t overload the circuit if you use an electric heater. Use extension cords which have the necessary rating to carry the amp.
- Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition.
- Place candles in sturdy fireproof candleholders.
- Keep candles away from combustibles.
- Install smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom. Make sure to test them.
- Smoke alarms that are ten years old and older need to be replaced.
Following these safety tips will help you prepare for this winter and help in preventing a fire in your home. In the event of a fire make sure you have a plan in place on how to escape. Know two ways out of every room, practice your escape plan with your family, and never attempt to go back into a burning home. For any questions on homeowner’s insurance and ways to protect your home please contact our experienced independent insurance agents at Buttrey-Wulff-Mamminga.