Heat the house safely: fireplaces, space heaters and CO alarms

Why this is on a winter list

Heating fires were the second leading cause of home fires in 2021, the U.S. Fire Administration says. Portable heaters were only 3 percent of home heating fires in 2017 to 2019, but 41 percent of the fatal ones.

Before the first fire

• Have the chimney and heating equipment cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.
• Clear three feet. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters and candles.

Every night

• Turn space heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Never use the oven to heat the house.

Carbon monoxide alarms

Furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and stoves that burn fuel can all make carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell. The CPSC says:

• CO alarms go on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
• Not in the attic or the basement unless someone sleeps there.
• Test them monthly and replace the batteries once a year.
• Smoke alarms go on every level, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. Combination smoke and CO alarms exist.

On the checklist

These steps live in the Hearth and Alarms corners of the winter checklist.