With winter on the way, experts offer tips to avoid common fire dangers in home heating

DENVER (KDVR) — The cold temperatures expected this week will have many people turning on their heating systems and starting up fireplaces for the first time this fall.

The National Fire Protection Association reports heating equipment has caused more than 50,000 fires in one year and a billion dollars in damage.

Golden Fire Marshall Brett Ballantine told the FOX31 Problem Solvers that HVAC systems should be inspected each year, especially before switching to heat for the first time.

“If you smell anything weird or out of the ordinary, you call 911. We’ll come out, check it out, but remember: Carbon dioxide doesn’t smell,“ said Ballantine.

Furnaces can cause carbon monoxide to leak so it is important to keep carbon monoxide alarms in your home and check batteries. The detector should be safety certified with the UL Listing symbol on the label.

Fireplaces can be another hazard for homeowners if the chimney is clogged, blocked or full of soot.

“Make sure it doesn’t have any cracks or anything like that and that the flue is working properly,” said Ballantine.

Your chimney should be cleaned to prevent carbon buildup and receive a professional inspection before lighting your first fire of the season.

Space heaters are the cause of 88% of home heating fire deaths. They should only be used if they can be closely monitored at all times and unplugged when not in use. Ballantine emphasizes that portable heating equipment should only be plugged directly into the wall outlet.

“You never want to plug those into extension cords or surge protectors, you always want to plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet that can handle the amount of energy being drawn into the appliance. They draw a lot of electricity and if you plug a space heater into an extension cord or a surge protector, the risk of fire is extremely high,” said Ballantine.

Ballantine advised that blankets and any other flammable items or liquids should be kept at least three feet away from space heaters or fireplaces. Cords should be kept away from clutter and never placed under rugs or mattresses.