How to Protect Your University Heights Home from a Winter Home Fire

1/5/2020 (Permalink)

According to the US Fire Administration (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/heating.html)

• 890 people die in winter home fires each year.
• $2 billion in property loss occurs each year from winter home fires.
• Winter home fires account for only 8 percent of the total number of fires in the U.S., but result in 30 percent of all fire deaths.
• Cooking is the leading cause of all winter home fires.
• A heat source too close to combustibles is the leading factor contributing to the start of a winter home fire (15 percent).
• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the most common time for winter home fires.

Don’t let your Shaker Heights home become a statistic. Follow these tips to help prevent home fires:

• Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to keep sparks from hitting nearby carpets or furniture.
• Keep kindling, paper, and décor away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn - including furniture, blankets, curtains, and paper products
• Choose space heaters that turn off automatically if they tip over.
• Purchase and use only space heaters that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

If ever you find yourself in a situation that requires assistance after a home fire, SERVPRO of Beachwood and Cleveland Northeast is here for you 24/7. We extend our services throughout the Cleveland area including, but not limited to Shaker Heights, Lyndhurst, and Brooklyn Heights. Please call us at 216-464-4498.