Heating your home

When it is cold outside, we want to keep our home warm and cozy but heating equipment can also cause fires if not used correctly. Here are quick tips on how to prevent fires while keeping your home warm:

• Keep children, pets and things that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating sources such as a space heater, fireplaces and stove

• Buy a space heater that has an automatic shut off in case it is tipped over

• Space heaters should be placed on a leveled surface on the floor

• Don't use the stove or oven to heat your room

Candle Safety

Candles are pretty to look at, especially during the holidays. However, candles have an open flame and can easily start a fire.

Battery-operated flameless candles are good alternatives to reduce the fire risk because they look and feel like real candles but won't cause fire.

If you do decide to light a candle, you should ....

• Only burn the candle when you are in the room

• Use sturdy candleholders

• Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn

Fire Place

Using a fireplace during the winter season can be nice to keep yourself warm in your home.

If you can, electric fireplaces are good alternatives. There are no open flames. The flame effects are simply an image or projection of flames. Touching the screen is like touching your TV set when it is on. The only part of the fireplace that can get warm or hot is the area directly near the heating element or warm air discharge.

If you have a fireplace, follow these safety tips:

• Your fireplace and wood stoves need to be inspected and cleaned annually by a certified professional

• Too much black powder in your chimney can cause a fire. Burned wood odors coming from the fireplace when it's not being used is also a sign to clean your chimney

• Cracks in chimney bricks and rusting in stove pipes can also cause a fire

• Avoid burning garbage, cardboard boxes, and green wood. Burn only dry seasoned wood

• Keep glass doors open if you have them

• Do not use gasoline and lighter fluid to start a fire

• Ensure the room is well ventilated

• Never leave fire unattended

If you smoke ...

Smoking materials, including cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, started an estimated 17,200 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2014 (Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department, 2018). If you are a smoker, you should follow these tips:

• Smoke outside

• Use deep, sturdy ashtrays

• Make sure cigarette butts and ashes are completely cool before throwing them out. Put them in water or a can that is filled with sand.

• Never smoke around medical oxygen as it can explode if a flame is near

• Do not smoke if you feel drowsy and tired or if you have taken medication