The following was taken from the Home Fire Safety Checklist. The checklist was developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent regulatory agency of the U.S. Government.

SOURCES OF FIRE

Supplemental Home Heating Equipment

The use of supplemental room heaters, such as wood and coal burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electrical heaters, has decreased, along with the number of residential fires.

Even though there has been a decrease in fires associated with supplemental heaters, it is important to remember that about 120,000 residential fires still occur annually with the use of these heaters, or about 22 percent of all residential fires. These fires kill more than 600 people. Annually there are thousands of contact burn injuries and hundreds of carbon monoxide poisonings.

Wood Stoves

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   The wood stove or fireplace has been

     installed according to existing building 

     codes and manufacturer's instructions.       ___       ___

2.   The chimney and stovepipe are checked

     frequently during the heating season 

     for creosote buildup and are cleaned

     when necessary.                              ___       ___

3.   The stove sits on a non-combustible or on 

     a code-specified or listed floor protector.  ___       ___

4.   Combustibles such as curtains, chairs, 

     firewood, etc., are at least three feet

     away from the stove.                         ___       ___

5.   Only proper fuel is used in the stove.       ___       ___

6.   A metal container with a tight-fitting lid

     is used for ash removal.                     ___       ___

Recommendations:

• Do not use wood burning stoves and fireplaces unless they are properly installed and meet building codes.


• Follow the label instructions on the stove which recommends an inspection twice monthly. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood burning stoves. Creosote builds up in chimney flues and can cause a chimney fire. To cut down on creosote buildup, avoid smoldering fires.


• Use a code-specified or listed floor protector. It should extend 18 inches beyond the stove on all sides. This will reduce the possibility of the floor being ignited.


• Follow the instructions on the stove label for proper location of the stove from combustible walls.


• Never burn trash in a stove because this could over heat the stove. Gasoline and other flammable liquids should never be used to start wood stove fires. Gasoline will ignite and explode. Use coal only if designated as appropriate by the manufacturer.

Kerosene Heaters

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   Only 1-K kerosene is used and it is

     bought from a dealer who can certify

     that the product is 1-K kerosene.            ___       ___

2.   The heater is placed out of the path

     of traffic areas such as doorways and

     hallways.                                    ___       ___

3.   Kerosene is stored outdoors, and out

     of the reach of children in a tightly

     sealed, preferably blue plastic or

     metal container, labeled "kerosene."         ___       ___

4.   No attempt is to be made to move the

     heater if flare-up (flames outside the

     heater cabinet) occurs.  The fire

     department is called immediately.            ___       ___

5.   The heater is used in well-ventilated

     rooms.                                       ___       ___

6.   The heater is turned off while sleeping

     and is never left operating unattended.      ___       ___

7.   The heater is placed at least three feet

     away from anything that might catch fire

     such as clothing, furniture, curtains,

     etc.                                         ___       ___

Recommendations:

Check with your local fire marshal regarding local and state codes and regulations for using a kerosene heater.

NEVER USE GASOLINE. Even small amounts of gasoline mixed with kerosene can increase the risk of fire.

Use properly labeled containers. It reduces the likelihood of mistaking gasoline for kerosene.

Place heater so it will not be knocked over or trap you in case of fire.

Use 1-K kerosene because grades other than 1-K contain much more sulfur and will increase sulfur dioxide emissions, posing a possible health problem. If you buy kerosene from a gasoline station make sure you and/or the attendant are using the kerosene pump, not the gasoline pump.

Never fill the heater while it is operating. Always refuel the heater outdoors to prevent spillage on floors and rugs which could later result in fire ignition.

Keep the room in which the heater operates ventilated (e.g. door open or the window ajar). This will prevent an indoor air pollution problem and minimize health problems. Kerosene heaters are not usually vented.

Keep flammable liquids and fabrics away from an open flame.

Never try to move the heater or try to smother the flames with a rug or a blanket if a flare up occurs. Activate the manual shut-off switch and call the fire department. Moving the heater may increase the height of the flames and cause leakage resulting in personal injury.

Gas-Fired Space Heaters

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                 Yes       No

1.   Only vented heaters are installed or

     used in sleeping quarters.                   ___       ___

2.   Vented heaters are properly vented to the

     outside.                                     ___       ___

3.   The unvented gas-fired room heater has a

     warning label and instructions that are

     followed.                                    ___       ___

4.   The unvented gas-fired room heater has a

     label stating it has a "pilot safety

     system" which turns off the gas if not

     enough fresh air is available.               ___       ___

5.   The vented heater has a label stating that

     it is equipped with a vent safety shutoff 
   
     system.                                      ___       ___

6.   If the heater uses liquified petroleum

     (LP) gas, the container is located outside

     the house.                                   ___       ___

7.   The manufacturer's instructions for light-

     ing the pilot are followed.                  ___       ___

8.   Matches are lighted before turning on the

     gas if pilot lighting is required.           ___       ___

9.   Flammable materials and liquids are kept

     away from gas heating appliances.            ___       ___

Recommendations

Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding where and how to use gas space heaters. Unvented heaters should not be used in small enclosed areas, especially bedrooms because of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Do not use a propane heater (LP) which has a gas cylinder stored in the body of the heater. Its use is prohibited in most states and localities in the United States.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for lighting the pilot. Gas vapors may accumulate and ignite explosively, burning your hand or face.

Light matches, if needed for lighting, the pilot, before turning on the gas to prevent gas buildup.

Do not operate a vented style heater unvented. It could allow combustion products, including carbon monoxide, to reach dangerous levels which will result in illness and death.

Portable Electric Heaters

The Commission estimates that half the deaths and one-third of the injuries resulting from electric heater fires occurred at night when family members are asleep and the heater unattended. The Commission is also concerned about the use of power or extension cords which can be too small to supply the amount of current required by the typical portable electric heater.

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                  Yes       No
  


1.   The heater is operated at least three

     feet away from upholstered furniture, 

	 drapes, bedding and other combustible 

	 materials.			   ___       ___

2.   The extension cord (if used) is marked #14

     or #12 American Wire Gauge (AWG).            ___       ___

3.   The heater is used on the floor.             ___       ___

4.   The heater is turned off when family members

     leave the house or are sleeping.             ___       ___

Recommendations:

Operate heater away from combustible materials. Do not place heaters where towels or the like could fall on the appliance and trigger a fire.

Avoid using extension cords unless absolutely necessary. If you must use an extension cord with your electric heater, make sure it is marked with a power rating at least as high as that of the heater itself. Keep the cord stretched out. Do not permit the cord to become buried under carpeting or rugs. Do not place anything on top of the cord.

Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture or the like. Never use heaters to dry wearing apparel or shoes.

Cooking Equipment

Cooking equipment is estimated to be associated with more than 100,000 fires annually, and almost 400 deaths, and 5,000 injuries. Gas cooking equipment accounts for about 30,000 fires, and electric cooking equipment for about 55,000 fires.

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   The storage area above the stove is free of

     flammable and combustible items.             ___       ___

2.   Short or tight fitting sleeves, and tight

     fitting shirts, robes, gowns, etc., are worn

     while cooking.                               ___       ___

3.   Items that could attract children (e.g. 

     cookies and candy) are not kept above the

     range and are kept out of the immediate

     area.                                        ___       ___

4.   The stove is not left unattended when cook-

     ing especially when the burner is turned to 

     a high setting.                              ___       ___

Recommendations:

Never place or store pot holders, plastic utensils, towels and other non-cooking equipment on or near the range because these items can be ignited.

Roll up or fasten long loose sleeves with pins or elastic bands while cooking. Do not reach across a range while cooking. Long loose sleeves are more likely to catch on fire than are short sleeves. Long loose sleeves are also more apt to catch on pot handles, overturning pots and pans and cause scalds.

Do not place candy or cookies over top of ranges. This will reduce the attraction kids may have for climbing on cooking equipment, thus reducing the possibility of their clothing catching fire.

Keep constant vigilance on any cooking that is required above the "keep warm" setting.

Cigarette Lighters and Matches

Each year more than 200 deaths are associated with fires started by cigarette lighters. About two thirds of these result from children playing with lighters. Most of the victims are under five years old.

You should be able to answer "yes" to the safety statements below.

                                                  Yes       No

1.   Cigarette lighters and matches are kept

     out of the reach of children.                ___       ___

2.   Cigarette lighters are never used to

     entertain a child.                           ___       ___

Recommendations:

Keep lighters and matches out of sight and out of the reach of children. Children as young as two years old are capable of lighting cigarette lighters and matches.

Never encourage or allow a child to play with a lighter or to think of it as a toy. Do not use it as a source of amusement for a child. Once their curiosity is aroused, children may seek out a lighter and try to light it.

Always check to see that cigarettes are extinguished before emptying ashtrays. Stubs that are still burning can ignite trash.