FIRE PREVENTION FACTS
 
 

 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 United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The latest NFPA research shows that heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,000 reported home fires in 2005. These fires resulted in roughly 700 deaths and roughly 1,500 injuries and nearly half the fires occurred during the winter months. The majority of home heating fires involve chimneys. Most home heating fire deaths involve space heaters.
   
   
 

The Stamford Fire Department is urging all Stamford 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.
  • 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.
 
   
 

Heating Safety             

 
 

It’s a cold winter night. You decide to use a space heater, or perhaps light a fire in the fireplace, to save on the heating bill. Comfortable from its warmth as bedtime approaches you think, “What harm could it cause to leave it on overnight?”

 

Think again. While these heating devices may help you feel cozy and warm, they can become extremely dangerous if not used properly. Home heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,000 home fires in 2005, according to the non-profit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The cost of these fires is more than just property damage. The cost includes roughly 700 lives and roughly 1,500 injuries.

  Home heating fires are largely preventable when you know the rules. Stamford Fire Department's goal is to reduce the number of home-heating fires in our community. But we need your help. We are urging families to use extra caution this winter when heating your home.
  The majority of heating fire deaths are caused by space heaters! Most heating fires are caused by creosote build-up in the chimney.
   
 

To help keep our community safe and warm this season, Stamford Fire Department  recommends that you follow these guidelines:

·        Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

·        Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

·        Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.

·        Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

·        Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if necessary.

·        Use a sturdy fireplace screen.

·        Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.

·        Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home — when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

·        Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.

                   Never use an oven to heat your home.