Fire department provides tips on preventing house fires Published Dec. 1, 2009 By Guy Chastain 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Service Flight MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The holidays in South Georgia are seldom white, but there is a chance that it will get cold enough for individuals to turn on their home's heating system. With a house full of holiday company, the last thing you want is a fire. Home heating fires are the second leading cause of fire deaths in American homes and the leading cause of home fire deaths during the months of December and January. Human error is one of the leading causes to a home heating fire, particularly through the misuse of portable heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces. Heating safety in homes requires correct installation, maintenance, fueling and operation of portable or space heaters. Here are tips to prevent electric portable heating equipment fires:. - Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from anything that might burn, including furniture, bedding, clothing, pets and people. - Turn heaters off when a room is unoccupied or prior to going to sleep. Don't leave children and pets alone or unsupervised in rooms where space heaters are in use. - Make sure that everyone is aware of how dangerous it is to dry clothing over heaters or place combustible materials near them. - Before using electric space heaters for the first time each season, check for fraying or splitting wires and overheating, once it's turned on. If there are problems, have them fixed by a professional or buy a new heater. - Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets--don't use extension cords and don't overload electrical outlets. In addition, many households use space and wall heaters that burn propane or natural gas. When using gas heaters, the State Fire Marshal's Office recommends the following practices: - Make sure there is an adequate air supply. Home heaters must have an air supply and without it, they may produce carbon monoxide. When using an unvented space heater without an oxygen depletion sensor, keep a window or door slightly open. - Ensure that pilot lights are working properly. If your heater has a pilot light and can't remain lit or if the control is hard to operate, have it repaired. All inspections and repairs should be made by trained, licensed service technicians. - Turn off a heater if an individual smells fumes or an odor, their eyes begin to sting or if they feel dizzy or nauseated, if there is a yellow or fluttering flame or if the vent isn't drawing. - Don't use space heaters with broken or out-of-place ceramic radiants. - If a strong gas odor is smelled, turn off all pilot lights, don't turn on any electrical switches (such as room lights) and call your gas company from another location. Small sparks from turning on lights or making a phone call could ignite gas. - Never store or use flammable liquids like gasoline, cleaning fluid or paint thinner near heaters. - Finally, never use the kitchen stove to heat the house or a grill or other outdoor, fuel-burning equipment. Whether you have central heat, a fireplace, wood-burning stove, wall heaters, space heaters or any combination of the above, an annual inspection by qualified professionals will help minimize risk and maximize winter comfort.