Frequent Home Fires in Winter Months; Fire Safety Tips

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Half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February. Nationwide, heating equipment is involved in 1 out of every 6 home fires and 1 in every 5 fire deaths. Because of the frequency of home fires in the winter months–more than any other season, according to the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office, fire officials are passing along numerous winter fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe this winter season.

Information from the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office:

Heating

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood
  stoves, radiators, or space heaters.
• Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (ex. space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
• Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container. Keep it outside at least 10 ft from
  your home and any nearby buildings.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Carbon Monoxide
• Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless
  gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and
  methane) burn incompletely.
• In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon
  monoxide.
• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every
  level of the home.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s
  instructions.
• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open
  window or door.
• Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for.
• Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel declare that
  it is safe to re-enter the home.
• Only use gas or charcoal grills outside, as they can produce CO.
  Portable Generators
• It’s important to know that portable generators emit carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous,
  deadly gas.
• Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas at least 20 ft from all doors,
  windows, and vent openings.
• Never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open.
• Place generators so that exhaust fumes are directed away from the building.
• Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling.
• Never refuel a generator while it is hot.
  Other reminders
• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace
  are clear of snow build-up.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do
  not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open.
  Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.

Winter Fire Safety Fact Sheet available https://statefiremarshal.delaware.gov/wp-
content/uploads/sites/110/2024/01/DSFM-Winter-Fire-Safety.pdf