Five Home Heating Tips

1. In 2002, 68 percent of home heating fires involved fireplaces, space heaters and chimneys, according to the latest figures available from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
2. Of the 220 fatalities associated with home heating fires — 85 percent were associated with alternative heating sources. The 85 percent breaks down to include 46 percent for portable space heaters, 28 percent for woodstoves and other fixed space heaters, and 11 percent for fireplaces and chimneys.
3. Residential energy use is expected to increase by 9 percent by 2010 largely due to population growth and technology improvement (Alliance to Save Energy).
4. Use space heaters only as a supplementary source of heat. These devices are not intended to replace the home's heating system. Keep all space heaters at least 3 feet away from household combustibles.
5. Install smoke alarms to warn of a fire, but also have carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in the home to warn about faulty furnace, fireplace and oven flues or any other venting problems.