With the continued cold weather, the National Fire Protection Association issued a renewed warning about the improper use of heating equipment -- a leading cause of home fire deaths.
Half of home heating equipment fires are reported from December through February and half the related deaths were from fires that started when something flammable was too close to the heat source, association officials said.
Association officials offers the following tips for ensuring a safe and cozy winter:
* Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heat source like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or space heater.
* Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
* Never use your oven to heat your home.
* Have a qualified professional clean and inspect heating equipment and chimneys annually.
* Test smoke alarms monthly.
* Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
* Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room and burn only dry, seasoned wood. Allow ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from the home.
* Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to avoid the risk of poisoning.
* Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
* Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.