Fire Safety Tips When It Comes to Heating Your Home

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – The Columbia-Richland Fire Department wants to make sure you don’t become a statistic. Space heaters and fireplaces cause more than 66,000 fires nationwide each year. The fire chief says most of those fires are preventable by following these safety tips: -All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment. -Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. -Install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer‘s instruction. -Have a qualified professional install the equipment. -Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO poisoning can cause illness and even death. -Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide. -Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional. -Turn space heaters off when you leave a room or go to sleep. -Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist. -Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations, and flammable materials. -Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire. -Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.