• Events
  • Donate
  • Contact
logo

BEECH MOUNTAIN

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

    • About
      • Message from the Chief
      • Our History
      • Stations
      • Membership
      • Contact
    • Join
      • Benefits
      • Learn More
    • Prevention
      • Address Sign
      • Code Red
      • First Aid & CPR Training
      • Kids Corner
      • Featured Safety Topics
      • Seasonal Safety Topics
      • Safety Topics By Audience
      • More Safety Topics
    • News
      • Events
      • Donate
    • Member Login
    Share
    Jan 13 2022

    NFPA urges added caution when using home heating equipment, the #1 cause of U.S. home fires between December and February

    Refer to Winter Fire Safety- What You Need to Know to Stay Safe This Season (beechmountainvfd.org) and the NFPA article below:

    January 14, 2021 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is urging the public to use added caution when heating their homes this winter. Home heating equipment is the leading cause of U.S. home fires during the months of December, January and February, when nearly half (48 percent) of all U.S. home heating equipment fires occur. January is the leading month for home heating fires.

    “Clearly, the coldest months of the year is when we see the largest share of home heating fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “It’s critical that people understand when and where home heating fires tend to happen so that they can take the needed steps to minimize those risks.”

    According to NFPA’s latest heating equipment statistics, an average of 48,530 fires home heating fires occurred each year between 2014 and 2018, resulting in an estimated 500 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.

    Space heaters were most often responsible for home heating equipment fires, accounting for more than two in five fires, as well as the vast majority of associated deaths and injuries. Fireplaces or chimneys were involved in approximately three in 10 home heating equipment fires. Other leading types of home heating equipment fires included central heat systems and water heaters, with each accounting for approximately one in 10 heating equipment fires.

    A failure to clean equipment was the leading cause of home heating equipment fires, with creosote build-up in chimneys representing a particular issue. Fires in which a heat source was too close to combustible materials caused the largest shares of civilian deaths, injuries, and direct property damage.

    “While home heating equipment does present potential fire hazards, the good news is that the vast majority of these fires can be prevented by making sure heating equipment is in good working order and monitored carefully,” said Carli.

    NFPA offers these tips and guidelines for safely heating your home this winter:

    • Heating equipment and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
    • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet (one meter) 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.
    • Create a three-foot (one meter) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
    • Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
    • 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, which should be placed outside at least 10 feet away from your home.
    • All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
    • If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company.
    • Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are located throughout the home; test them monthly to ensure that they’re working properly.

    NFPA offers a wealth of home heating safety tips, information, and resources to help better educate the public about ways to safely heat their homes. In addition, NFPA’s “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign with the U.S. Fire Administration works to promote a host of winter safety issues, including home heating.

     

    Share

    Our News

    June 25th Annual Open House-Food & Fun! (Starts at 2pm)

    May 7th “National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day”

    May 4th “Shine Your Red Light” for Firefighters

    April 28th “Burn A Blue Bulb” Campaign Begins

    March 13th “Daylight Savings Change-Spring Forward” is the annual day to change the batteries in your smoke, fire & carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

    Fire & Life Safety Info Center

    • Fire & Safety Information
    • Upcoming Events
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Station Location
    • Donate

    BEECH MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

    1007 Beech Mountain Parkway

    (Please send all mail to:  P.O. Box 436)

    Beech Mountain, NC 28604

    • About
      • Message from the Chief
      • Our History
      • Stations
      • Membership
      • Contact
    • Join
      • Benefits
      • Learn More
    • Prevention
      • Address Sign
      • Code Red
      • First Aid & CPR Training
      • Kids Corner
      • Featured Safety Topics
      • Seasonal Safety Topics
      • Safety Topics By Audience
      • More Safety Topics
    • News
      • Events
      • Donate
    • Member Login
    Phone
    Emergency: 911
    Non-Emergency: 828-387-4612

    Member Login

    All content, including all images and photography except as specifically noted. Copyright Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department

    • About
      • Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department History
      • Contact
      • Donate
      • Message from the Chief
    • Blank Activity Form
    • BMVFD Stations
      • Membership
    • Call List
    • Community Resource
      • Address Sign
      • Code Red
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Fire and Life Safety Information
        • Apartment Fire Safety
        • Arson Awareness and Prevention
        • Burn Prevention
        • Campus Fire Safety
        • Candle Fire Safety
        • Carbon Monoxide Safety
        • Children & Fire Safety
        • Clothes Dryer Fire Safety
        • Cooking Fire Safety
        • Don’t Feed The Bear and Other Wildlife
        • Electrical Fire Safety
        • Featured Fire Safety Topics
        • Fire Extinguisher Safety
        • Fire Safety for Older Adults
        • Fire Safety for People with Disabilities
        • Fire Safety Topics By Audience
        • Garage and Basement Fire Safety
        • Heating Safety
        • Holiday Fire Safety
        • Home Fire Escape Planning
        • Home Fire Recovery
        • Home Fire Sprinklers
        • More Fire Safety Topics
        • Seasonal Fire Safety Topics
        • Severe Weather and Fire Safety
        • Smoke Alarm FAQs
        • Smoke Alarm Safety
        • Smoking Fire Safety
        • Summer Fire Safety
        • Thanksgiving Fire Safety
        • Wildfire Safety & Preparedness
      • First Aid & CPR Training
      • Kids Corner
    • Events
    • Homepage
    • Members Resources
      • Board Minutes
      • Meeting Minutes
      • Member Documents
      • Officers Minutes
      • Overview Minutes
      • Photo Galleries
        • Community Events Photos
        • Fires
        • Training
      • SOG Overview
      • Training Overview
    • News
    • Ready For A Challenge?
      • Benefits
    • Thank You for Contacting Us
    • Thank you for your interest in First Aid and CPR Training
    • Events
    • Donate
    • Contact
      First Arriving Logo