Crime & Safety

Winter Fire Safety Tips from Dakota County

Each year in the U.S., winter home fires are responsible for 900 deaths and more than $2 billion in damage, according to a release.

Now that winter is officially here, our heating, lighting, cooking and holiday activities increase dramatically—and the risk of home fires, a Dakota County Public Health release said.

Most home fires are preventable, and the release suggests that citizens follow the following guidelines to reduce the risk:

Look out for lighting

Each year in the U.S., there are about 250 home fires involving Christmas trees and 170 involving holiday lighting. December is the peak time of year for home candle fires.

  • Keep your tree well-watered and away from heat sources.
  • Check your lights to make sure the wires are intact and circuits are not overloaded.
  • Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
  • Avoid using candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.

Keep the fire in place
Almost half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January and February.

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  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
  • Have heating equipment professionally installed.
  • Have chimneys cleaned every year by a qualified professional.
  • Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks.
  • Test smoke alarms monthly.

Be careful while cooking
Cooking is the leading cause of all winter home fires.

  • Never leave a stove unattended, especially when young children are around.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
  • Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires.

Keep breathing
Each year, about 14 Minnesota residents die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and hundreds more end up in the emergency department. The risk of CO poisoning is greater when doors and windows are closed and fireplaces, gas heaters, or other fuel-burning appliances are in use.

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  • Make sure your home has a functioning CO detector in addition to a smoke detector — it’s Minnesota law.
  • Make sure your furnace has an adequate air supply and all fuel-burning appliances are properly vented and maintained.
  • Only use propane stoves and gas barbecues outdoors.
  • Open your garage door if you are warming up your car, and if you are stuck in the snow, make sure that the tail pipe is not blocked.

For more information on fire safety, check out the following resources:


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