U.S. home heating fires peak during winter months

 Heating fires peak during the winter months, with nearly half of all U.S. home heating equipment fires (46 percent) occurring between December and February. In response to this increased risk, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) is sharing simple but critical ways to stay warm and safe through the colder months and during winter storms.

“Each winter, when heating systems kick into high gear, so do the number of home heating fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “Our goal is to make sure people know when and where home heating fires tend to occur, along with ways to prevent them.”

According to the latest NFPA data, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual estimated average of 37,365 home heating equipment fires from 2020-2024, accounting for 11 percent of all reported home fires during this time; these fires resulted in 417 civilian deaths, 1,260 injuries, and $1.2 billion in property damages. Space heaters and heating stoves were the type of heating equipment responsible for the largest shares of losses in home heating equipment fires, accounting for nearly half (47 percent) of the fires, but over seven out of 10 deaths (73 percent) and seven out of 10 (70 percent) of the injuries.  

In addition, colder temperatures across much of the country and fewer hours of sunlight result in people spending more time indoors, which means electricity is used more hours of the day, and, in many cases, households are doing more cooking, which represents the leading cause of home fires year-round.

“With winter storm alerts currently stretching 2,000 miles across central, southern, and northeastern portions of the United States, it’s a good time to make sure everyone knows how to operate a generator safely in the event of a power outage,” Carli added.

NFPA offers the following tips and recommendations to reduce the threat of home fires and associated hazards during the winter months:

Heating safety:

• Make sure all heating equipment is in good working order. Heating systems and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Use space heaters in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Turn them off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container; keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

Carbon monoxide:

• Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department.
• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.

Electrical safety:

• Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffeemaker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets.
• Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords.
• Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers; a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance; a discolored or warm wall outlet; a burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance; flickering or dimming lights; or sparks from an outlet.

Cooking safety:

• Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking food unattended. For foods with longer cooking times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
• Clear the cooking area of combustible items, keeping anything that can burn – such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels – at least three feet away from cooking equipment.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.