Home Heating Fires

11/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Upper Darby has specialized in water damage repair and restoration.

Facts on Home Heating Fires

• Heating fires are the second leading cause of home fires.
• The number of home fires the American Red Cross has responded to has risen 10% since 2000.
• 80% of Americans don’t realize that home fires are the single most common disaster across the nation.
• Each year over 200 people die from carbon monoxide produced by fuel burning appliances in the home including furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters.
• Fixed and portable space heaters, including wood stoves, are involved in 74 percent of fire-related deaths.
• Nearly half of American families use alternative heating sources such as space heaters, fireplaces, or wood/coal stoves to stay warm.
• Only 26 percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
• Having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chances of dying in a fire by nearly half.

Home Heating Fire Prevention Tips

• When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over as another safety measure.
• Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
• Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
• Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
• Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year.

Why Choose SERVPRO of Upper Darby

After the fire trucks leave, your home likely suffers from fire and smoke damage and extensive water damage from firefighting efforts. SERVPRO of Upper Darby have the specialized fire restoration training needed to restore your home to pre-fire condition.