Did you know? Home fires occur more in the winter months than any other time of the year. Follow these general heating tips to help prevent winter fires and to stay safe this winter season:
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles.
Never use an oven to heat your home.
Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.
Space Heater
Keep anything that can burn, such as bedding, clothing and curtains, at least 3 feet away from the heater.
Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
Check your space heater for cracked or damaged cords and plugs. Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets, don’t use an extension cord or power strip.
Only use portable heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.
Fireplace
Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks jumping out.
Do not burn paper in your fireplace.
Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 3 feet from your home.
Wood Stove
Make sure your wood stove is 3 feet from anything that can burn.
Do not burn paper in your wood stove.
Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.
Furnace
Kerosene Heater
Only use kerosene heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.
Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
Refuel your cooled heater outside.
For more information and free resources, visit www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach
Southern Marin Fire District:
For future questions/information (non emergency) see SMFD web site: www.smfd.org
SMFD Non-Emergency Line Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm PST call: 415-388-8182
For all emergencies call: 9-1-1