Red Cross urges safe home heating as they say home fires rise 26% in NC
CHARLOTTE, NC (WWAY) — With the official start of Winter around the corner, American Red Cross urges families to take steps to heat their homes safely.
American Red Cross says in the U.S., heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires and home fires account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters the Red Cross responds to each year. During the cold months, responses are 30% higher than the warmer times of year.
Since November 1st, American Red Cross says home fires have increased by 26% compared to last year.
“Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said James Jarvis, Regional Disaster Officer for the Red Cross in North Carolina. “But there are steps people can take to avoid having this happen to them. Help keep your family safe by providing at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires.
To heat your home safely follow these tips:
- If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes.
- Plug space heaters power cords directly into outlets, never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room.
- Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended.
- Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned.
To prevent home fires, check your smoke detectors regularly and practice your home fire escape plan.
