November 30, 2009

   Caution urged with alternative heating sources

With temperatures starting to drop, alternative heating sources will become more commonplace, and the Indiana State Fire Marshal is urging caution. According to information gathered from the Indiana State Fire Marshal, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 613 home structure fires in Indiana in 2008. These fires accounted for nearly 10% of all home fires.

         Recently a home in the Indianapolis area burned down due to the use of an oven as an alternative heating source. “You should only use heating sources intended for heating a home, all other sources could be dangerous,” said Jim Greeson, Indiana State Fire Marshal and Indiana Department of Homeland Security Division of Fire and Building Safety Director. “Help for heating your home is out there, you just need to ask.”  The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) administers the Energy Assistance Program (EAP), and allocates federal heating assistance money to community action agencies around the state to disperse to qualified households. The federally-funded program offers low-income Hoosiers assistance with winter heating bills. Households that are not in an energy emergency are encouraged to call their local community action agency. For a complete list of community action agencies, or more information on the Energy Assistance Program, please visit: http://www.in.gov/ihcda/2523.htm.
 

The State Fire Marshal suggests following these tips for safe heating during the winter months:

·              Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as draperies, blankets, clothing, bedding, etc. at least three feet away from heating equipment.

• When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory and is legal for use in your community.
   
• Turn off space heaters whenever the room they are in is unoccupied or under circumstances when manufacturer’s instructions say they should be turned off. Portable space heaters are so easy to knock over in the dark that they should be turned off when you go to bed.
   
• Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
   
• Use the proper grade of fuel for your liquid-fueled space heater, and never use gasoline in any heater not approved for gasoline use. Refuel only in a well-ventilated area and when the equipment is cool.
   
• Use only dry, seasoned wood in a fireplace or wood stove to avoid the build-up of creosote, an oily deposit that easily catches fire and accounts for most chimney fires and the largest share of home heating fires. Use only paper or kindling wood, not a flammable liquid, to start the fire. Do not use artificial logs in wood stoves.
   
• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Allow fireplace and woodstove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from your home.
   
• Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.
   
• Make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside, that the venting is kept clear and unobstructed, and that the exit point is properly sealed around the vent. These steps are to make sure deadly carbon monoxide does not build up in the home.
   
• Be sure to inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary.
   
• Never use an oven to heat your home.
   

         Greeson urges Hoosiers to test smoke alarms monthly and install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home — when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month and change batteries twice each year.  For more information on alternative heating safety, visit www.in.gov/dhs.  (Reprinted with permission from the Indianapolis Star)

    

---