Fire Safety Tip - January 2023

Heating is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the third leading cause of home fire deaths

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), American fire departments responded to an estimated average of 48,530 fires involving heating equipment per year in 2014-2018, accounting for 14% of all reported home fires during this time. These fires resulted in annual losses of 500 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.

Based on 2014-2018 annual averages:

• Most home heating fire deaths (81%) involved stationary or portable space heaters.

• The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (25%) was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.

• Half of the home heating fire deaths were caused by having heating equipment to close too things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing mattresses or bedding.

• Nearly half (48%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.