Keeping safe from fire damage while staying warm and cozy in your Nashville home

1/22/2016 (Permalink)

As the temperature drops throughout Nashville, we find ourselves staying bundled up and inside where it’s warm. This is the time of year when people start to bring out extra sources of heat to warm their home. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) gives us a list of other heat sources available, as well as how to stay safe this winter while using them.

·      Space heater

o   Keep anything that can burn or catch fire at least three feet away at all times.

o   Buy a space heater that has an automatic power-off, especially for if the heater tips over accidentally.

o   Do not keep the heater on when unattended or while sleeping.

o   Plug the heater directly into an outlet instead of using an extension cord or power strip.

·      Fireplace

o   Do not burn paper in your fireplace. This can cause small, burning particles to fly into the living area.

o   Keep a screen in front of your fireplace to prevent embers from flying out into the living space.

o   Never leave a fire unattended while sleeping or when out of the house.

o   When cleaning out the ashes from the fireplace, make sure to dispose of them in a metal can with a lid that’s at least three feet away from your Nashville home.

·      Wood-burning stove

o   The wood-burning stove is treated much like a fireplace with the same rules that apply, but with a wood-burning stove, there is also the chimney that comes into play.

o   Have your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year by a professional.

** Read more about heating fire safety at USFA and remember to only use products that are labeled as being tested in a laboratory.