Heating equipment can cause fire

Fireplaces are special animals. In addition to annual chimney inspection and an annual chimney cleaning as a minimum, a chimney must have been installed properly to prevent carbon monoxide build-up in a house, and also avoid heat escaping and igniting the house.

The flue also must be inspected annually. Even if you don’t notice anything, a trained professional may notice a crack in the chimney that could lead to a house fire or overheating of creosote, which will reduce the oxygen level in the home. Don’t put the lives of your family at risk unless you are trained to inspect the home. There are a lot of businesses that will help or do it for you.

Never use any petroleum to light or restart a fire. Gasoline, kerosene, butane, charcoal lighter, diesel and other fuels are sometimes used by people who are unaware that the vapors could explode, causing a fire in the home and severe injuries to the person trying to light the fire. Also, a common sense item (but one worthy of mentioning) is to never put flammable liquids inside your home. In Alaska, it is unfortunately a common practice for people to put gasoline or lock de-icer inside to keep it warm during the winter months; however, this practice can create significant problems for a fire department because it can accelerate a house fire beyond the ability of the fire department to put it out. Not to mention the fact that if the containers leak any fumes at all, they can create a fire hazard with their presence.

When lighting the fire in the fireplace, avoid the use of petroleum fuels and also open the flue prior to lighting. Never close the damper prior to going to bed, as warm ashes can release a large amount of carbon monoxide inside the home due to incomplete combustion. Keep the fire inside the fireplace by closing any mesh gates it came with or securing the contents with metal grate and screens. Bear in mind that these devices are not 100 percent successful — keep an eye on the fire by regularly checking on it even throughout the night. If you use artificial logs, only burn one at a time.

When using a heater, make sure to use one that is up to par with current standards and code. According to data from the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office, in 2009, heating equipment was the leading contributor of known fire cause. In fact, heating equipment caused more than 35 percent of residential structure fires. Older space heaters will not meet current safety standards and will be missing several new safety features.

Never leave space heaters on when you go to sleep or if you leave an area. Children and pets should also be kept away from space heaters, as many older models will not have a shutoff if they are tipped over, and children can be burned by heaters set too high. Place any heaters on level, hard and nonflammable surfaces. Keep them away from carpeting, rugs, drapes and bedding. A good guideline is to keep all flammable material at least three feet away from any heater. Kitchen ranges and ovens have been known to be used by people to warm up the house as a “temporary” fix, but often they are forgotten as people fall asleep and can build up the carbon monoxide levels in the home, or overheat the house and deplete oxygen.

Never use unvented fuel-burning heaters. These heaters can build up dangerous carbon monoxide in your home, resulting in disability or death. If you use a vented gas or kerosene-burning heater, have the equipment inspected annually to ensure proper operation.

Most importantly, have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms! These simple devices will save lives, as proven numerous times. In the event an accident does occur, have a Type AB fire extinguisher close at hand, and dial 911 even if you think you put the fire out.

Lt. Christian M. Hartley is the fire prevention officer for the Houston Fire Department and has been in emergency services since 1999.