Supplemental Heating
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide
Instructor Guidleline
Lesson
Focus
Supplemental heating devices are appliances that are used
for warming or in conjunction with your home heating
system.
Notes
The use of supplemental heating devices, such as wood and coal
burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electrical heaters
has decreased, along with the number of residential fires.
Even though there has been a decrease in fires associated with
supplemental heaters, it is still important to remember that about 120,000
residential fires still occur annually with the use of these heaters, or about
22% of all residential fires. These fires kill more than 600 people, as well
as causing thousands of contact burn injuries and hundreds of carbon
monoxide poisonings each year.
• The focus of this lesson is to emphasize the dangers of supplemental
heating devices and how to safely use them.
Lesson
Objectives
Objective 1.
The participant will learn what supplemental heating
devices are.
Objective 2.
The participant will learn how to inspect their
supplemental heating devices to prevent a
fire hazard.
Objective 3.
The participant will learn supplemental heating
device safety.
Notes
Suggested
Teaching Props
Supplemental Heating
• Handouts for all participants
• Bring examples of several different types of supplemental
heating devices.
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Supplemental Heating
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide
Instructional
Points
Notes
Instructor Guidleline
Supplemental heating devices or appliances are those
devices that are typically used in conjunction with your
home’s main heating source.
• Portable electric space heaters - These frequently used
supplemental devices are responsible for thousands of fires and many
deaths annually.
• Kerosene heaters – Another heating device that is responsible for
thousands of fires and deaths.
• Wood Stoves – Wood and coal burning appliances and chimney
assemblies are responsible for over 100,000 fires annually and hundreds
of fire related deaths.
• Gas Heaters – Likewise, many fire incidents involve gas heating
appliances. Annually these appliances account for almost 20,000 fires
and several hundred fire fatalities.
Maintaining your supplemental heating device is just as
important as maintaining your home’s heating and
cooling system.
Notes
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• Inspect your appliance before the heating season begins and look
for frayed cords, wicks and pilot light function, and have your chimney
cleaned and inspected by a reputable contractor.
• Be familiar with emergency shut offs for these appliances and make
sure they are working properly.
• Keep appliance a minimum of 3 feet from combustibles and be sure
there is adequate ventilation in the room.
• Be sure to fuel your appliance with the appropriate type fuel.
• Make sure you have a working smoke detector and carbon
monoxide detector.
• Never use a vented appliance without proper venting.
• Make sure your burner is producing an adequate flame to
prevent incomplete combustion causing carbon monoxide.
• Follow all lighting instructions.
• Never check for gas leaks with a lighter. Use a soap solution or
commercial leak detector.
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Supplemental Heating
Supplemental Heating
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide
Instructor Guidleline
Instructional
Points
Supplemental heating devices can be a good supplement
to other residential heating sources. Follow these safety
recommendations to help prevent fire hazards.
Notes
Wood Stove Safety
Notes
Kerosene Heater Safety
• Do not use wood burning stoves and fireplaces unless they are properly
installed and meet building codes.
• Follow the label instructions on the stove which recommends an
inspection twice yearly. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned by a
professional chimney sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood
burning stoves. Creosote builds up in chimney flues and can cause a
chimney fire.
• Use a code-specified or listed floor protector. It should extend 18 inches
beyond the stove on all sides. This will reduce the possibility of the floor being
ignited.
• Follow the instructions on the stove label for proper stove distance from
combustible walls.
• Never burn trash in a stove as this could cause it to overheat.
• Gasoline and other flammable liquids should never be used to start wood
stove fires. Gasoline will ignite and explode. Use coal only if designated as
appropriate by the device manufacturer.
• Check with your local fire marshal regarding local and state codes and
regulations for using a kerosene heater.
• NEVER USE GASOLINE. Even small amounts of gasoline mixed with
kerosene can increase the risk of fire.
• Use properly labeled containers. It reduces the likelihood of mistaking
gasoline for kerosene.
• Place heater so it will not be knocked over or trap you in case of fire.
• Use 1-K kerosene because grades other than 1-K contain much more sulfur
and will increase sulfur dioxide emissions, posing a possible health problem.
• Never fill the heater while it is operating. Always refuel the heater outdoors
to prevent spillage on floors and rugs, which could later result in fire
ignition.
• Keep the room in which the heater operates ventilated by slightly opening
a door or window. This will prevent an indoor air pollution problem and
minimize health problems.
• Keep flammable liquids and fabrics away from an open flame.
• Never try to move the heater or try to smother the flames with a rug or
blanket if a flare-up occurs. Activate the manual shut-off switch and call the
fire department. Moving the heater may increase the height of the flames and
cause kerosene leakage, which can result in personal injury.
Supplemental Heating
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Supplemental Heating
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide
Instructor Guidleline
Instructional
Points
Supplemental heating devices can be a good supplement
to other residential heating sources. Follow these safety
recommendations to help prevent fire hazards.
Notes
Gas-Fired Space Heaters Safety
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Participant Review
1. Keep heating devices ___
feet from combustibles.
3 feet
2. How do you check for
gas leaks?
With a soap solution or
gas detector
3. Only use ______ gas heaters
in sleeping areas. Vented
4. Inspect your heating device
for____ prior to using?
Frayed cords, wicks,
pilot light function, chimney
cleaned, emergency shut
offs working
Only use vented heaters in sleeping areas.
Make sure vented heaters are properly vented to the outside.
Follow the warning label on unvented gas heaters.
Make sure your unvented gas-fired room heater has a label stating it
has a “pilot safety system” that turns off the gas if not enough fresh air
is available.
The vented heater should have a label stating that it is equipped
with a safety shutoff system.
If the heater uses liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, the fuel tank must
be located outside the house.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for lighting the pilot.
Light the match before turning on the gas if pilot lighting is required.
Keep flammable materials and liquids away from gas heating
appliances.
Portable Electric Heater Safety
• Ensure the heater is operated at least 3 feet away from
combustibles, including upholstered furniture, drapes, bedding.
• Never use heaters to dry wearing apparel or shoes.
• Ensure the heater is turned off when family members leave the
house or are sleeping.
• If you use an extension cord with your electric heater, make
sure it is marked with a power rating at least as high as that of the
heater itself.
• Keep the cord stretched out and never place under rugs or
carpeting.
• Do not place anything on top of the cord.
• Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, or furniture.
5. Make sure you have a
working______ in your home.
Smoke detector
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Supplemental Heating