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2021 Fire Prevention Month Tip: Heating Safety

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Fall weather in the PNW means many things to a Seattleite: leaves changing from green to gold, daylight savings time, back to school, pumpkin spice everything, and preparing for winter weather, just to name a few.

This week for Fire Prevention Month we are highlighting fire risks related to residential heating sources.

As would be expected, most heating-related fires occur during the colder months when heaters get turned on and the use of portable heaters and fireplaces increases. Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard and portable heaters are the most common types of heating-related residential fires.

Please review these heating safety tips

  • Never block the flow of heat; give your heaters space.
  • Keep children 3 feet away from anything that can get hot, including heaters.
  • Do not put anything close to a heater and do not let anything hang across or on a heater.
  • Never use an extension cord with a portable heater; plug a portable heater directly into a wall outlet.
  • Make sure your portable heater is tested by an independent testing laboratory and has an automatic shut-off feature if it tips over.
  • Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or before going to bed.
  • Inspect all heating equipment yearly and always hire an experienced electrician to do any necessary repair work on your baseboard or wall heaters.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters regularly. 
  • Have your heating systems and chimneys inspected, cleaned, and repaired prior to cold-weather seasons.
Give your heaters plenty of space:12-inches for baseboard and 3-feet for space heaters.

Watch this new video created in partnership with the King County Fire and Life Safety Association. Translated versions will be available soon!

Heating Safety Messages in American Sign Language

Learn More:

Heating Fire Safety Handout

NFPA Heating Safety Tip Sheet

US Fire Administration-Keeping Kids Safe From Fire

Belltown Apartment Fire caused by Baseboard Heater

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Photo courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

September 27—A Belltown apartment fire was caused by combustible materials stored against a baseboard heater according to a Seattle Fire Investigator.

The original 911 call came into dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center at 10:24 a.m. reporting fire and smoke inside a 3rd floor apartment at a 16-story building in the 2200 block of 1st Avenue.

When firefighters on Belltown Ladder Company 4 arrived, the building was in alarm and the apartment was fully-charged with black smoke. The occupant of the apartment safely self-evacuated while firefighters evacuated all the residents from floors 4 and below. Residents on floors 5 to 16 were told to stay in their units, close their doors and “shelter-in-place”.

Firefighters controlled the fire in just 10 minutes after arriving on scene. They were able to completely extinguish the flames within 15 minutes.

Callers to 911 originally indicated residents were breaking windows to get air. However, upon further investigation, the broken glass came from the fire unit’s windows when the heat and flames broke out the glass.

Medics evaluated the 63-year-old occupant of the apartment for smoke inhalation. AMR transported the patient to HMC as a precaution. He was in stable condition.

The damage estimate is $40,000 to the structure and $10,000 to the contents.

Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard heaters and portable heaters are the most common types of heating-related residential fires.

Here are a few tips to keep your home heating safe this winter:

Give your heaters space – Do not put anything next to a heater.

Baseboard heaters need 1 foot clearance and portable space heaters need 3 feet clearance.

Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.

Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or before going to bed.

Broken glass after fire self ventilated

Broken glass after fire self ventilated

Photo courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Eastlake Apartment Fire Causes $300,000 in Damage

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Photo Courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo Courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo Courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo Courtesy of Fire Buff John Odegard

March 29—A Seattle Fire Investigator determined an Eastlake apartment fire was caused when combustible materials came into contact with an electric baseboard heater.

At 11:31 p.m., the initial 911 call came into a dispatcher at the Fire Alarm Center reporting a fire in an apartment complex located in the 2200 block of Yale Avenue East. The initial units arriving found heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of the three-story apartment complex.

It took about 25 minutes for firefighters to completely extinguish the flames. The fire extended from an open living room area through a window causing damage to the overhang of the building’s roof. The fire also caused significant smoke and heat damage to the remaining rooms on the same floor.
There were no injuries but two cats were found deceased inside the building.
The fire investigator determined that combustible curtains and a couch ignited after coming into contact with the baseboard heater.

The damage estimate is $150,000 to the structure and $150,000 to the contents.

The Red Cross was called to assist 4 adult females and 4 adult males displaced by the fire.

The Seattle Fire Department’s Public Education Unit advises residents that common sense can prevent a heater fire. All heating systems can start fires if not used and maintained properly. Heating your home during the colder months of the year can prove dangerous, if you do not follow a few simple safety precautions.

Check baseboard heaters often to remove objects that have fallen on top of or near the heater. Remember that any time objects like newspapers, furniture or blankets are close to heaters, a fire can start.

http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/homeHeatingSafety.pdf

Baseboard Heater to Blame for Apartment Fire

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Photo Courtesty Fire Buff John Odegard

Photo Courtesy Fire Buff John Odegard

January 27-A Seattle Fire Investigator determined a top floor apartment fire on Capitol Hill was caused by a mattress placed against an electric baseboard heater. The electric heater ignited the mattress.
At 10:54 a.m., multiple 911 calls came into the Fire Alarm Center reporting a fire on the top floor apartment of a building in the 400 block Belmont Avenue East.

Capitol Hill Engine 25 arrived first to find light smoke coming from the a 4th floor apartment. Ladder Company 10 initiated a search and rescue operation. Firefighters found a female resident of a 4th floor apartment with singed hair and suffering from mild smoke inhalation. AMR transported the patient to Harborview Medical Center for an evaluation.

It took approximately 20 minutes to completely extinguish the flames.

The fire investigator estimates structure damage at $15,000 and content loss at $30,000.

The Seattle Fire Department’s Public Education Unit advises residents to keep all combustible materials at least a foot away from baseboard heaters. For more information on heater safety, you can click on this link.

http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/homeHeatingSafety.pdf

Seven People Displaced by Fire at Seward Park Home

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March 14—Seattle Fire Investigators determined a morning house fire in Seward Park was caused by combustible materials too close to an operating wall heater.

At 7:02 a.m., the Seattle Fire Alarm Center(FAC) received multiple 911 calls reporting a fire inside a two-story home located in the 4900 block of 44th Avenue South.

Engine 30 arrived to find everybody out of the house and flames and smoke pouring from a back second floor bedroom. Firefighters ran hose lines into the house. Due to their quick actions, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within 10 minutes.

Fire investigators are calling the fire accidental in nature and estimate the damage loss at $150,000.

The Red Cross was called in to assist two adults and five children who were displaced by the fire.

There were no reported injuries.

Queen Anne Apartment Fire caused by Baseboard Heater

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Courtesy John Odegard

February 3—A Seattle Fire Investigator determined combustibles piled too close to a baseboard heater caused an early morning fire on Queen Anne. A resident called 911 at 5:39 a.m. to report flames coming from the second floor unit in the 600 block of West Olympic Place. Engine Company 8 arrived to find flames shooting from the second floor of a three story building.

All of the residents evacuated safely before firefighters arrived. The two occupants of the fire unit woke up to smoke and ran from door-to-door to help evacuate their neighbors.

It took 40 minutes to completely extinguish the flames. The fire started in the living room and extended into the ceiling, out into the balcony and up into the apartment above.

A 62-year-old firefighter was injured when the ceiling of a balcony collapsed on him while he was overhauling the fire. Medics transported the firefighter to Harborview Medical Center where he was treated for a minor knee injury and released.

Fire Investigators are calling the fire accidental and estimate damage loss at $300,000 to the structure and $100,000 to the content.

Residents were not allowed back in the 6 units of the complex due to smoke and fire damage. The Red Cross is finding shelter for 12 displaced residents.

The Seattle Fire Department Public Education Unit states heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February.

Baseboard heaters are very efficient, but they can be a serious fire hazard if used carelessly. Common sense can prevent a baseboard heater fire. Any time a flammable object comes in contact with a heater, a fire could result.

Here is a Checklist for Baseboard Heaters:

• Check baseboard heaters often and remove objects that have fallen on top or near the heater.
• Keep all furniture a safe distance from your heaters. Never block the flow of heat.
• Never permit electrical cords to drape across heaters.
• Always hire an experienced electrician to do any necessary repair work on your baseboard heaters.

Facts about Heater Safety

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In the past weeks, firefighters responded to two home fires caused by baseboard heaters that came into contact with some combustible materials. Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard heaters and portable heaters are the most common types of heating-related residential fires.

Here are a few tips to keep your home heating safe this winter:

• Give your heaters space – Do not put anything next to a heater.
Baseboard heaters need 1 foot clearance and portable space heaters need 3 feet clearance.
• Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.
• Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or before going to bed.

Fire hazard – curtains and bedding too close to the heater.

Firefighters Battled Access Issues in Beacon Hill House Fire

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January 2—Seattle Firefighters battled access issues when fighting a fire inside Beacon Hill home. Around 12:30 p.m., a neighbor called 911 to report a fire inside the home at 5500 block of 21st Avenue South. Engine Company 28 arrived to find light smoke and visible flames coming from the one story home.

The homeowner, a woman in her 50’s, was outside the house and said she suffered singeing to her hair while escaping the fire. Medics transported her to Swedish Medical Center’s First Hill E.R. with minor injuries. The woman says she was inside her living room reading when the flames started and she escaped out the front door.

Arriving firefighters were not able to open the front door or back door to the house due to a large amount of debris piled up inside. The access issues delayed firefighters getting water on the fire. Using chainsaws, firefighters cut a hole in a back window to gain access into the burning home and to spray water on the flames. One firefighter crawled through the smoke filled home to open the front door. Once inside, firefighters knocked the flames down within 7 minutes.

A Seattle Fire Investigator determined the cause to be accidental, combustible materials piled too close to an electric baseboard heater inside the living room. The damage estimate is 40 thousand dollars to the structure and five thousand dollars to the contents.

No firefighters were injured while fighting the fire.

A Baseboard Heater contributed to Fire at University District Apartment Complex

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Photo Courtesty John Odegard

November 16—An early morning fire at a University District apartment complex was caused by combustible materials too close to an electric baseboard heater according to a Seattle Fire Investigator. Around 3:45 a.m. Seattle Firefighters responded to the 5000 block of Brooklyn Avenue NE after several 911 callers reported flames visible from the two-story apartment complex.

Engine Company 17 arrived to find flames coming from a first floor apartment living room. Firefighters knocked down the fire within five minutes of arriving. All 8 units of the complex were searched to make sure all of the residents safely evacuated.

A man who lived in the apartment where the flames began was treated when his hair was singed while trying to put out the fire with a blanket. Seattle Fire Paramedics also examined the female occupant of the apartment. No one was transported.

All residents were allowed back into their apartments except for the two occupants of the damaged apartment. They are staying with relatives.

A Seattle Fire Investigator is calling this fire accidental in nature, caused when combustible materials came into contact with an electric baseboard heater. An SFD investigator estimates the damage at $40,000 to the structure, $10,000 to the contents and $8,000 to a car and motorcycle that were damaged by the flames.

Investigator Rules Fatal Fire Caused By Baseboard Heater

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October 16—A Seattle Fire Investigator has ruled an afternoon fire on Capitol Hill as accidental. The investigator determined the fire was caused by combustible materials stored too close to a baseboard heater.

About 1:15 p.m. a 911 caller reported smoke from the two story home located in the 1700 block of 19th Avenue. Engine Company 25 arrived to find light smoke coming from the roof and flames coming from the bottom floor of the home.

Ladder Company 10 entered the home and found heavy smoke causing zero visibility. Firefighters searched the bottom level of the home and found a man in his 30’s on the ground. Unfortunately, life saving techniques were not able to revive the man and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Within 15 minutes, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames which damaged several rooms on the bottom floor of the home. The fire caused an estimated 90 thousand dollars in damage to the structure of the home and 40 thousand dollars in damage to the contents.

Two residents, who live upstairs, were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross is finding them shelter.

As we enter into the fall and winter months, more people will be turning on their heaters. Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates heating equipment fires cause an average of 560 deaths and injure more than 1600 Americans. Heating equipment fires also cause more than 900 million dollars in property damage a year.

The Seattle Fire Department Public Education Unit has some simple safety precautions. Check baseboard heaters often to remove objects that have fallen on top of or near the heater. Remember that any time objects like newspapers, furniture or blankets are close to heaters, a fire can start.

Portable heaters heat up rapidly and, like baseboard heaters, they can easily ignite any flammable item left nearby. Always turn portable heaters off if you leave the room or are going to fall asleep.