As winter approaches, fire chiefs should prepare themselves, the departments and their communities for the dangers presented by alternate heating sources. A survey conducted by the American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association shows 79% of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes, and many will use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter, which could lead to an increase in home fire hazards this winter.

“As we head into, what by all accounts is likely to be a very costly heating season, these survey results and Fire Prevention Week provide a critical opportunity for us to remind people about the things they can do to prevent home fires and keep their families safe and warm this winter,” said NFPA President James. M. Shannon. “If people use alternative heat sources to reduce energy costs, it is critical they use devices that are new or in good working order, and they turn off units when they go to bed or leave the room.”

NFPA and the American Red Cross offer these safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn off the stove if leaving the kitchen, even for a short time.
• Give space heaters space by keeping them at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

“We hope this survey will encourage more people to take the simple steps necessary to protect their families and homes from fire,” said Gail J. McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Of the more than 74,000 disasters the American Red Cross responds to each year, approximately 93% are fire-related, but unlike natural disasters, most home fires can be prevented.”

For additional fire safety tips and complete survey results, visit www.firepreventionweek.org or www.redcross.org/homefires.