Emergency Services
Winter Home Fire Safety Tips
- Place space heaters on a floor that is flat and level. Do not put space heaters
on rugs or carpets. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture,
and other flammable materials; and place space heaters out of the flow of foot traffic.
Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep
or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the heater off when you
leave the area. See CPSC's electric space heater safety alert for more space heater
safety tips.
- Never use gasoline in a kerosene space heater. Even small! all amounts of gasoline
mixed with kerosene can increase the risk of a fire.
- Have fireplace flues and chimneys inspected for leakage and blockage from creosote
or debris every year.
- Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire, and keep it open until the ashes
are cool. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the
home.
- Store fireplace ashes in a fire-resistant container, and cover the container with
a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from combustibles. Dispose of ashes
carefully, keeping them away from dry leaves, trash or other combustible materials.
For more information, please visit the
National Fire Protection Association website or call Forsyth County Emergency
Services Fire Division at (336) 703-2550.