The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) are teaming up to reduce the risk of home heating fires this December, January and February, when half of all U.S. home heating fires occur. Through their joint fire safety campaign, “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires,” both organizations urge everyone to use extreme caution when heating their homes this winter, and to keep anything that can burn far away from heating equipment.
Placing a heat source too close to things that can burn is a leading cause of home heating equipment fires, and it’s the leading cause of related fire deaths; half of all home heating fire deaths result from heating equipment being placed too close to things that can burn.
NFPA and USFA strongly encourage people to keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment, and to create a three-foot “kid-free zone” around them as well. By taking these and other simple safety precautions, everyone can significantly reduce their risk to associated fires.
Winter fires are preventable! For more heating fire safety advice from NFPA and USFA’s “Put a Freeze on Winter” campaign, visit www.nfpa.org/winter.
