Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company - Prevent heating fires with common sense cautions Grinnell Mutual

Prevent heating fires with common sense cautions Grinnell Mutual

With the winter chill in the air, families often turn to alternative heating sources such as portable space heaters to spread warmth and save money. When it comes to staying warm during this heating season, safety just makes sense.

According to fire statistics from Grinnell Mutual’s Special Investigations Unit, more fires occurred in January than any other month in 2011. In 2010, the most common cause of fires in which the origin could be determined was electrical in nature (39 percent). The next most common cause was combustibles being too near the heating source (21 percent)—a leading cause in fires involving space heaters.

“Many fires are caused by carelessness and could be prevented,” said Alan Clark, assistant vice president of Special Investigations at Grinnell Mutual. “The products themselves are built to be safe, but we often investigate fires where people put things on top of their space heater, for example. Regardless of what type of space heater you have, it needs proper clearance from common household combustibles such as blankets, curtains, furniture, papers, and other combustible material.”

The following tips are what every family should know before plugging in a space heater:

Inspect the unit, including its power cord, before use. If the cord is damaged, it is more likely to cause a fire.
Maintain an object-free zone of three feet around the space heater. Never place objects near or on top of a space heater and never use the unit as a dryer.
Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. If an extension cord must be used, make sure it is at least a No. 14-gauge or larger wire that can handle the electrical load required by the unit.
Turn off space heaters if no one is in the room and never leave young children alone near a space heater.
Consider purchasing a new unit with an automatic shut-off feature that will turn the space heater off if it tips over.
Refuel kerosene space heaters outdoors and store extra fuel in a shed away from the home. Open windows to provide necessary ventilation during use. Some municipality fire codes do not allow kerosene space heaters.
Only purchase and operate space heaters that have been tested and evaluated by a nationally recognized safety organization such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA)—the organization that purchased the American Gas Association (AGA), Warnock Hersey, etc.
Confirm that the space heater you own or are considering purchasing has a nameplate or placard on the cabinet indicating it has been inspected, approved, and/or is listed by one or more of the safety organizations mentioned above.
Review the owner’s manual for the heater you own or are considering purchasing and follow all safe operating procedures listed within the manual. Special attention should be given to clearances to combustibles, acceptable types of fuel for the heater, etc.

Take time to teach your children about space heater safety and remember to put these safety tips into practice, advises Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company.

About Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, in business since 1909, provides reinsurance for farm mutual insurance companies and property and casualty insurance products for homeowners, farmowners and businessowners through more than 1,600 independent agents in 12 Midwestern states. Grinnell Mutual is the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America.