SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The American Red Cross is urging citizens to take precautions to safely heat their homes.

According to press release from the American Red Cross of Illinois, home fires account for most of over the 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year and home fire responses are 30% higher during cold months than warmer times of year. However, there are certain actions individuals can take to prevent home fire tragedies:

  • Never leave a space heater unattended: Place it on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface like a ceramic tile floor. Avoid rugs, carpets, and proximity to bedding and drapes.
  • Use outlets, not extension cords: Plug space heater power cords directly into wall outlets and turn off the heater when leaving the room or going to sleep.
  • Maintain a safe distance: Keep children, pets, and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
  • Avoid using ovens to heat your home: Never use a cooking range or oven for home heating.
  • Fireplace safety: Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Ensure embers are completely extinguished before leaving or going to bed. Use a glass or metal fire screen to contain embers.
  • Annual inspections: Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood, and coal stoves inspected and cleaned by a professional annually.

“Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said Rodrigo Carrillo, Regional Disaster Officer for the Illinois Red Cross. “But, there are steps people can take to avoid having this happen to them. Help keep your family safe by providing at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan.”