Although Laurinburg fire investigators have not determined the cause of the blaze that gutted the house on Duncan Street, all too often heating equipment is to blame.
According to the State Fire Marshal's office, Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February.
In 2006, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported U.S. home structure fires. This translates to 540 deaths, 1,400 injuries, and $943 million in direct property damage. Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third of the home heating fires and three-fouths of the deaths from home heating fires in 2006.
The state has issued several tips to help you stay safe throughout the period.
— All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
— Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
— Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
— Never bring in a charcoal or gas grill or other fuel-burning equipment inside to heat your home, they can produce carbon monoxide.
— Never use an oven to heat your home.
— Test smoke alarms monthly.
For fuel burning space heaters
—Always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer.
— When refueling, allow the appliance to cool and refuel outside or in a well-ventilated area.
—When using the heater, open a window to ensure adequate venting.
For wood-burning stoves and fireplaces
– Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood.
– Use artificial logs according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
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