Winter is the time of year many of us hibernate in our homes. But though these can be cozy months, they can also be among the most hazardous for fires.
From 2017 to 2019, heating fires in homes accounted for an estimated annual average of 34,200 reported fires. And more than half of all home fires occur from December to March, according to data collected from 2017 to 2019 by the U.S. Fire Administration’s national reporting system.
Too many of these incidents were avoidable. Fire safety and electrical experts shared with HuffPost the biggest mistakes they want you to avoid this winter.
1. Don’t put a space heater close to anything that could combust.
In more than a quarter of the largest heating fires that occur in residential buildings, the fire started because the heat source was too close to something that could burn. And a space heater can often be the culprit.
