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Fire Marshal: Freezing Weather Brings a Spike in Home Heating Fires across Texas 

Message from Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams

Heating is a major cause of home fires in the United States, second only to cooking fires.  Heating fires started by portable space heaters account for the most deaths and injuries.

Falling temperatures this week have led to a spike in home fires across much of the State, including Southeast Texas.  In just the past 24 hours, New Waverly Firefighters have responded to three residential fires that have forced families from their homes and led to a least one injury.  Since Friday, Fort Worth firefighters say they’ve responded to 9 major home fires that have left 3 people injured and numerous others displaced from their homes.  In the same period in Dallas, 14 fires have left two people dead.

Cold temperatures are forecast to remain with us well into the weekend, leaving many residents turning to alternative heat sources such as wood burning stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces to stay warm. Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Over one-quarter of home heating fires result from improper maintenance and cleaning of heating equipment, while space heaters accounted for 4 out of every 5 home heating fire deaths.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, (NFPA),Fire Departments responded to an estimated average of 40,997 fires involving heating equipment per year from 2018-2022, accounting for 12% of all reported home fires during this time, and these fires resulted in annual losses of 470 civilian deaths.

Home heating fires often occur at the worst possible time, breaking out in the middle of the night while our families are asleep. The number one safety recommendation is first and foremost, to have working smoke alarms in every bedroom and adjoining hallways.  Working smoke alarms dramatically increases your chance of surviving a fire.  

The New Waverly Fire Department is offering free home safety visits and Firefighters can install free long life smoke alarms for homeowners that need assistance.  Under Texas Law, landlords are required to install smoke alarms in every bedroom and adjacent hallway.  Tenants are responsible for replacing batteries and testing their smoke alarms.  If you are renting a home, apartment, or even an RV, and don’t have working smoke alarms, notify your landlord in writing and they are required to install new smoke alarms or replace defective ones.

Heating Fire Prevention

  • Keep or maintain a 3 foot clearance between all heating equipment and anything that can burn.

  • Inspect and maintain heating equipment regularly for safety.

  • Be sure to have fixed space heaters installed by a qualified technician, according to manufacturer’s instructions or applicable codes.  Or, make sure a qualified technician checks to see the unit has been properly installed.

  • When buying a new, portable space heater, make sure it has the label showing it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

  • Space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room and before going to bed.

  • Choose space heaters that turn off automatically if they tip over.

  • Never use a space heater to dry clothing.

  • Do not use your oven to heat your home.

  • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.  For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home.  When one sounds, they all sound.

  • Test smoke alarms monthly.

  • Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

SADDLE CREEK
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