As Marylanders prepare for another winter weather event, we depend on multiple types of heating sources to stay warm inside our homes. State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci is providing Marylanders life and home saving heating safety tips.
“Heating our homes during these winter weather events presents a potential danger for home fires in Maryland,” according to the Fire Marshal. “Please follow these guidelines, as we work together to reduce the number of residential fires throughout our State.”
• Ensure chimneys are cleaned annually or more frequently if used as the primary heating equipment.
• Use properly sized fireplace screens or enclosures. Never use a flammable liquid to start a fire.
• When disposing of cooled ashes, do not use paper or plastic containers to remove them, instead use a metal container. Ashes will insulate hot embers long after the fire is considered out.
• Make sure fuel burning stoves are installed according to local fire codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have your furnace inspected and serviced annually.
• Check portable electric heaters for frayed/damaged wires and ensure they are clean and placed on a flat level surface. Use only “listed” appliances by an approved testing laboratory and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
• Do not use extension cords with portable space heaters. The extension cord can overheat and cause a fire.
• If you use kerosene fuel fired heaters, use only “K-1” kerosene fuel. Never fill the unit inside, remove it to the exterior after it has cooled before refueling. Note: Portable kerosene heaters are banned for use in Baltimore City.
• Open a window enough to provide proper ventilation.
• Keep combustibles (furniture, curtains, clothing, paper goods, etc.), at least (3) three feet from all heat sources.
• Fuel burning appliances can produce the deadly, tasteless and odorless gas known as carbon monoxide. Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to provide an early warning of carbon monoxide levels.
• Always turn off portable heating equipment when leaving the room for extended periods. Portable heaters should never be operated unattended.
Along with these heating tips, check to make sure your smoke alarms are in good working order. “Take this opportunity to check in on elderly family members and neighbors to ensure they have working smoke alarms and CO detectors, as well as helping them to follow these important fire safety tips,” stated Geraci.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: www.mdsp.org/firemarshal
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