Springfield, IL – With freezing temperatures arriving across Illinois, the State Fire Marshal is urging residents to take precautions to prevent home heating fires this winter. Officials note that half of all home heating fires occur between December and February, when space heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces are in heavy use.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one in every seven home fires — and one in every five fire-related deaths — involves heating equipment. Safety experts recommend keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, or space heaters.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office shared similar guidance on social media, reminding residents to have their chimneys and furnaces inspected annually and to never use an oven or stove to heat a home.
Other safety tips include keeping portable generators outside and away from windows, installing and testing carbon monoxide alarms monthly, and storing cooled ashes in a metal container at least 10 feet from the house.
For more information on winter fire prevention, visit www.usfa.fema.gov/winter or www.nfpa.org/winter.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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