Winter Heating Safety Tips

STATE FIRE MARSHAL PROVIDES
WINTER HEATING SAFETY TIPS:

PIKESVILLE, MD (January 23, 2012) – As the temperatures remain cold outside, we
depend on multiple types of heating sources to stay warm inside our homes. State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard provides Marylanders life and home saving heating safety tips. "Elements of home heating continue to be a significant factor in home fires in Maryland," according to the Fire Marshal. "Following these guidelines, we can work together to reduce the number of residential fires."

- Ensure chimneys are cleaned annually or more frequently if used as the primary
heating equipment.

- Use properly sized fireplace screens or enclosures. Never use a flammable liquid to
start a fire.

- When disposing of cooled ashes, do not use paper or plastic containers to remove
them, instead use a metal container. Ashes will insulate hot embers long after the
fire is considered out.

- Make sure fuel burning stoves are installed according to local fire codes and
manufacturer's instructions.

- Have your furnace inspected and serviced annually.

- Check portable electric heaters for frayed/damaged wires and ensure they are clean
and placed on a flat level surface. Use only "listed" by an approved testing
laboratory equipment and follow manufacturer's instructions.

- Do not use extension cords with portable space heaters. The extension cord can
overheat and cause a fire.

- If you use kerosene fuel fired heaters, use only "K-1" kerosene fuel. Never fill the
unit inside, remove it to the exterior after it has cooled before refueling.

-Open a window enough to provide proper ventilation.

- Keep combustibles (furniture, curtains, clothing, paper goods, etc.), at least three
feet from all heat sources.

- Fuel burning appliances can produce the deadly, tasteless and odorless gas known
as carbon monoxide. Install and maintain CO2 alarms inside your home to provide
an early warning of carbon monoxide.

- Always turn off portable heating equipment when leaving the room for extended
periods. Portable heaters should never be operated unattended.

Along with these heating tips, check to make sure your smoke alarms are in good working order. "Routine maintenance and safe operation of heating equipment, combined with properly installed and operating smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, are a life-saving combination for all Marylanders," stated Barnard.