Remember to be safe when heating your home

Brrr, it is beginning to get cold again, and it’s time to turn up the heat on the central heat or pull out the tried and true space heaters. It’s always important to remember the safety precautions and check the safety of your heating equipment as cooler temperatures arrive.

I’ve lived through a few near-fire accidents and learned how important it is to take safety measures when it comes to heating a household. When I was five or six years old, I attempted to dry my wet tennis shoes on the wall heater in our house. I decided to hold them almost directly on the heater because, in my young mind, I thought they would dry faster. After a few minutes, I smelt this horrible odor. At first, I thought the stench was from my feet, but I soon realized my shoes were burning! I almost caught the bottoms of my rubber shoes on fire.

Another heater incident occurred when I was pregnant with Emily. My husband and I lived in a lovely home with central heat and air in Lexington, Alabama. As a young married couple with a baby on the way, we watched our pennies and therefore decided to keep the heat set to 63 degrees. Of course, that wasn’t quite warm enough, so I pulled out our space heater to warm up my area by the couch. Before I knew it, I started smelling that familiar burning smell and realized the heater was too close to the sofa where I was sitting. It nearly set the couch on fire! If you don’t take precautions, a fire can happen before you know it.

There have been nine heatrelated fire deaths in 2022 out of 52 fire deaths in Mississippi. There were 84 fire deaths in 2021. Out of those deaths, 15 were heating-related. Mississippi State Fire Marshall Mike Chaney said it is the prime time to check the safety of your heating equipment since this is the first time most will be using heaters for the first time in a year. Chaney recommends everyone remember to keep clothes, drapes, and anything else combustible at least three feet away from all heating equipment, especially space heaters, and to adhere to the following heating fire safety tips:

• All heating equipment should be UL® approved, cleaned, and inspected by a qualified professional before being used yearly.

• Inspect the space heater’s power cord for damage, fraying, or heat. The heater should be replaced if the cord inspection reveals any of these issues. Proper cleaning is essential and should be done regularly.

• Never use space heaters while you sleep or in areas where children may be without adult supervision.

• Do not leave space heaters on when you are away from home.

• Always unplug space heaters when they are not in use. The heater should also be equipped with a tip-over shutoff switch.

• Never use a stove or oven to heat living spaces. Kerosene is a poor choice for heating as it will give off poisonous fumes.

• Have chimney flues cleaned and inspected by qualified personnel, and use a spark screen that is age appropriate for all individuals when using a fireplace.

• Only burn approved materials in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Never burn paper or trash in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button and replace all smoke alarms that are at least ten years old.

• Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area, common hallways, and on every level of the home.

• Have an emergency evacuation plan for the family to follow in case a fire breaks out in the home, and have a designated meeting place for all family members outside the home. Once everyone is outside the burning home, call 911 and don’t go back inside the home under any circumstances.

Everyone, please stay SAFE and warm during the months to come.