With the recent rash of bad weather, Director of Commerce Gary C. Suhadolnik and State Fire Marshal James McNamee are urging Ohioans to take extra care when heating their homes. Nearly half of the 15,000 residental fires each year occur during the winter heating season.

"More than 2,000 residential fires last year were caused by home heating," said Director Suhadolnik. Approximately one half of these fires were caused by wood stoves and portable heaters. The primary reason for these fires, according to Marshal McNamee, is that wood stoves and portable heaters require greater attention to safety precautions than central heating systems.

Ohio fire officials expect 6,000 fires to occur between November 1, 1998 and February 28, 1999. Director Suhadolnik and Marshal McNamee point out that home heating is primarily responsible for the increased number of fires during the winter.

WOOD STOVES
One of the most important safety factors is the use of a wood stove with a clean chimney and stove pipe. Officials recommend that they be cleaned and inspected at the beginning of the heating season. If the stove is used frequently, it may also require cleaning during the heating season.

Wood stove users should dispose of ashes in metal containers with tight-fitting lids. They should also avoid using flammable liquids to kindle fires, and keep furniture and other combustibles away from the stove.

"The use of portable heaters requires an even greater commitment to safety requirements," Marshal McNamee said. "Because the heaters are portable, great care must be taken to ensure that they do not block the exit from a room or come in contact with something that will burn."

Before using kerosene heaters, fire officials recommend that the wick be cleaned and adjusted according to the manufacturer's specifications. Operating and safety instructions included in the original package should be reviewed. In addition, safety warnings printed on the heater should be closely followed.

Kerosene heaters are designed to use only 1-K or "water clear" kerosene as fuel. Care must be exercised to insure that gasoline is never accidentally placed into the heater's fuel tank.

Safety precautions involving the use of electric heaters are often overlooked because heaters that lack a flame appear safe. For this reason, most fires involving electric heaters are caused by the heater being too close to furniture, draperies or bedding.

Working smoke detectors and a home fire escape plan are additional safety measures that can help you survive a fire in your home. "Reading directions and following safety precautions is one of the major steps in helping save lives," noted Director Suhadolnik.

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The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The Fire Marshal's Office trains firefighters, enforces the Ohio Fire Code, investigates the cause and origin of fires and explosions, provides fire prevention programs and performs other services.