The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) urgently reminds Texans to stay safe when heating their homes. In January, the office investigated seven structure fires that caused nine injuries and seven deaths.
“Our initial investigations show that improper use of cooking appliances, space heaters, and heating lamps were involved in the cause of these fires,” said State Fire Marshal Debra Knight.
SFMO shares these winter safety tips:
- Never use your oven to heat your home. Ovens are for cooking, not heating rooms.
- Inspect heaters before you use them. Look for cracked or broken plugs and loose connections.
- Plug heaters directly into wall outlets. Don’t use extension cords or power strips.
- Keep space heaters and heat lamps at least three feet from anything that can burn.
- Turn off space heaters before you leave the room or go to bed.
SFMO is a division of the Texas Department of Insurance. Learn more about fire safety.