HOME HEATING SAFETY

As the temperature continues to drop, Fire Chief James Sullivan and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan are urging residents to use caution while heating their homes in a new public education campaign, “Keep Warm, Keep Safe.”

“These days it is more important than ever to practice safety first when it comes to heating your home,” said Chief Sullivan. “With the cost of heating fuel on the rise, residents may turn to space heaters, pellet stoves, or their fireplace more often. For the most part, these alternative heating devices can be safe. However, there are simple steps you can take to safeguard you and your family this winter.”

Heating is the second leading cause of fires in the home in Massachusetts. One in 10 space heater fires cause a death. Last year, there were 19 fires, three civilian deaths, two civilian injuries and seven fire service injuries attributed to space heater fires statewide.

“The winter months are the leading months for home fires and we need to take extra care to protect our families and loved ones,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. “It is important to prepare now to keep warm and keep safe this winter.”

The Keep Warm, Keep Safe campaign will include television, radio, transit and web-based public service announcements, printed materials in several languages, and a grassroots outreach effort led by local fire departments. Many retailers have pledged to display educational flyers near space heaters, carbon monoxide alarms and pellet stoves. The Department of Fire Services also convened the state’s first Winter Heating Fire Safety Task Force that includes utility companies, the Attorney General's office, fire departments, the Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Oilheat Council, the property insurance industry, Community Action programs, local councils on aging, the Salvation Army, the Shriners, and retailers.

Space heaters can cause fires if they are placed too close to combustible materials such as drapes, furniture or bedding. Keep anything that can burn three feet away from the space heater and use only heavy-duty extension cords. Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on each floor of your home. Test the alarms once a month and change batteries twice a year. Make sure to check on elderly neighbors regularly in the cold months.

If you heat your home by burning solid fuels (coal, firewood, pellets), be careful before, during and after using these kinds of fuels. Have the chimney annually cleaned by a certified professional. Dispose of the ashes in a metal container, with a lid, away from the house – not in the garage or under the porch.

Natural gas and fuel oil are both safe and efficient. Make sure to have a professional clean and tune-up your furnace and hot water heater every year. Gas leaks can be poisonous so the gas company adds something to make it smell like rotten eggs. If you suspect a leak move outdoors and immediately contact the local fire department.

For more information on winter heating and fire safety, visit www.mass.gov/keepwarmkeepsafe or contact your the Pittsfield fire department.