Space heaters and fire reporting

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Anthony Benzor
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Fire Prevention Office
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  According to the latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, two out of every three home fires associated with heating equipment involve devices other than central furnaces or water heaters. When used improperly, space heaters; gas fueled, kerosene fueled or electric, fixed or portable, wood stove or fireplaces can all lead to fires. 

Here are latest statistics from NFPA:
-- Heating equipment fires accounted for 16 percent of all reported home fires in 2006 (second behind cooking) and 21 percent of home fire deaths.
-- From 2003 to 2006, the leading factor contributing to home heating fires and deaths was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress or bedding. These statistics exclude fires that were confined to a chimney, flue, fuel burner or boiler.
-- Half of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February from 2003 to 2006.
-- Home heating fires peak between 6 and 11 p.m., and associated deaths peak between midnight and 10 a.m. 

Portable heaters sometimes are a must, but use them wisely. Inspect the heater before use; ensure the unit is clean and free of dust and lint, check the cord to make sure it is not frayed or cracked, and never use an extension cord, surge suppressor or system furniture to power the heater.

 Heaters should be plugged directly into wall outlets. They should be located at least 36 inches from furniture, combustibles and people. Turn the heater off when you leave the work place, house or go to bed. Never leave children unattended where the heater is in use. Make sure the heater is Underwriters Laboratories approved and has a tip-over shut off function. As a reminder, on Travis the only space heaters allowed in the workplace are the oil-filled radiator style space heaters. 

Some good safety tips to follow are:
-- Read and follow the manufacturer's operating instructions. Make sure that everyone in the work place and household understands how to operate the heater safely.
-- Be certain your heater is placed on a level, hard, non-combustible surface, not on rugs or carpets
-- When turning a heating device on or off, be careful to follow the manufacturer's instructions. When buying heaters, look for devices with automatic shutoff features.
If you find that your space heater or anything else in your home or work area has caught fire, the following steps will be taken.
-- Evacuate the area immediately
-- Dial 911 from another house or building and 424-4911 from a cell phone.
-- Do not go back into the area for any reason 

When you call 911 the dispatcher will ask the address of your emergency. This is to ensure that if the call is lost, crews can still be sent. The second question will be your name and call back number. If for any reason more information is needed we can call you back. The third question is nature of emergency to ensure the proper equipment is sent to handle the emergency. The final question asked is if anybody is hurt or still inside the house. This will help ensure we send all needed resources are sent to the scene.