National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Winter Fire Safety

Topics for today include information and tips designed to help keep you safe when you're indoors during the winter season. Specific subjects include:

Facts

• Cooking is usualy the number-one cause of home fires; roughly half of residential fires originated in the kitchen.
• Open flames and heating fires were numbers two and three.
• Most heating fires in Minnesota involve fireplaces or chimneys.
• The most dangerous place to be, with regard to fire, is in your own home. Three-quarters of fire deaths take place in residences.
• Many home fire deaths took place in homes without working smoke detectors.

Safe Behavior

Your home can be a cozy, warm place to spend the winter,
but it can become a nightmare if you don't "watch what you heat!"

• Safety around heating equipment and appliances is an important first step in reducing the threat of fire. Keep children and loose clothing at a safe distance.
• Use a yardstick to measure the distance between heating equipment and combustible material. Unless you have three feet of clearance, you are at risk.
• Always turn off portable heating appliances when leaving home or retiring for the evening. Be sure the fire in the fireplace is out before going to bed.
• Have chimneys, fireplaces and other heating devices inspected by a qualified professional at the start of every heating season.
• Use a sturdy screen or glass closure in front of your fireplace, and burn only clean fireplace wood. Never burn treated lumber.
• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, and test them monthly.
• If you smell gas in your home, contact your local utility company or qualified professional heating contractor and follow their advice.
• Install a residential fire sprinkler system in your home.
• Inspect heat tape before using it. Never thaw frozen pipes with an open flame.

Safe Behavior

Winter holidays can be a joyous time for all, if you practice holiday fire safety at home.

• Protect neighborhood homes this winter. Keep your nearest fire hydrant clear of snow.
• After holiday parties, check wastebaskets and furniture for smoldering cigarettes.
• Place holiday decorations well away from heat sources. If you use a tree, water it daily.
• Do not burn holiday wrappings in a fireplace; it may cause a chimney fire.
• Pay attention to cooking. If a pan is on fire, cover it with a lid. Water will spread the fire.
• Turn off and unplug lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving your house. Buy electrical decorations that have been approved by a national testing laboratory. Don’t overload outlets.

For further information, contact:

• Your local fire department
• The State Fire Marshal Division at (651) 201-7200
• The State Fire Chiefs' Association at (651) 603-8827

For more info...MN Winter Weather Awareness Home Page