U.S. home heating fires peak during winter months

January 23, 2025 – Heating fires peak during the winter months, with nearly half of all U.S. home heating equipment fires (46 percent) occurring between December and February. In response to this increased risk, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) is sharing simple but critical ways to stay warm and safe during the colder months.

 

“Each winter, when heating systems kick into high gear, so do the number of home heating fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “Our goal is to make sure people know when and where home heating fires most often occur, along with ways to prevent them.”

 

According to the latest NFPA data, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual estimated average of 38,881 home heating equipment fires from 2019-2023, resulting in 432 civilian deaths, 1,352 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property damages. Space heaters and heating stoves were the type of heating equipment involved in nearly one-third (29%) of these fires, accounting for nearly eight out of 10 deaths (77 percent) and seven out of 10 (71 percent) of the injuries.

 

Carli notes that colder temperatures across much of the country and fewer hours of sunlight result in people spending more time indoors, which means electricity is used more hours of the day, and, in many cases, households are doing more cooking, which represents the leading cause of home fires year-round.

 

In addition, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Fatal carbon monoxide incidents reported in the news underscore these risks.

 

NFPA offers the following tips and recommendations to reduce the risk of home fires and associated hazards during the winter months:

 

Heating safety:

• Make sure all heating equipment is in good working order. Heating systems and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Cooking safety:

• Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking food unattended. For foods with longer cook times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
• Clear the cooking area of combustible items, keeping anything that can burn – such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels – at least three feet away from cooking equipment.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Electrical safety:

• Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffeemaker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets.
• Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords.
• Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers; a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance; a discolored or warm wall outlet; a burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance; flickering or dimming lights; or sparks from an outlet.

Carbon monoxide safety:

• Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department.
• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.

Smoke alarms, which reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (60 percent), must be installed in all required locations and working properly. Home escape planning is another essential element of home fire safety, as people may have as little as two minutes to escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and using that time wisely can have life-saving impact.