FASNY: Heat your home safely this winter

FASNY provides safety tips to keep holidays merry & bright 

By the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York

Winter is in full swing, bringing with it freezing temperatures and snow. As New Yorkers turn on their heat this winter and curl up next to their fireplaces, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) wants to remind everyone to follow some simple tips when preparing their homes for winter.

Space heaters and fireplaces can increase the risk of a home fire when used improperly. Homeowners should check that all their heating equipment is functioning properly, and double-check that all their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors have fresh batteries.

“It is extremely important to heat your home safely this winter,” FASNY President Steven Klein said. “During these cold upcoming months, we respond to an increased number of fires, many caused by carelessly operated heating equipment. There are simple tips to follow that can prevent a tragedy from occurring. For example, plugging a space heater into an extension cord can easily cause a tragic fire. Everyone should check their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors at least once a month.”

Heating is one of the leading causes of fires in the U.S., and half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 52,050 fires involving heating equipment each year in 2012-16. As of this week, New York leads the nation in fire deaths for this year with 112.

Here are some home heating tips from FASNY and the NFPA:

•Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

•Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. 

•Never use your oven to heat your home. 

•Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions. 

•Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. 

•Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. 

•Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

•Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home. 

•Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

About FASNY 

Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York represents the interests of the approximately 105,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.