Space heater and home heating safety
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heater, plug space heaters straight into a wall outlet, turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed, never heat your home with the oven, and test smoke alarms every month.
Information may be delayed or incomplete. Always verify with official sources and follow local officials.
Heating is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. NFPA says space heaters and heating stoves were involved in about 30 percent of home heating equipment fires but 73 percent of the deaths, based on 2020 to 2024 averages, and 46 percent of heating equipment fires happen from December through February (NFPA: Home Heating Safety).
Space heaters
“Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles.”U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety
- Buy a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory, a thermostat and overheat protection, and an automatic shut-off if it tips over (NFPA).
- Plug it straight into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord or power strip (NFPA, CPSC).
- Set it on a solid, flat surface, out of the way of foot traffic, and never block an exit (NFPA).
- Keep kids away. NFPA suggests a 3-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
- Turn it off and unplug it when you leave the room or go to bed (NFPA, USFA).
- Don't run the cord under a rug or carpet, keep heaters away from water, and never touch one if you are wet (CPSC).
“If the plug, outlet, or faceplate is hot, discontinue use of the heater, and have a qualified electrician check and/or replace the plug or faulty wall outlet(s).”CPSC, Reducing Fire Hazards for Portable Electric Heaters
Check whether your heater has been recalled at SaferProducts.gov, as CPSC suggests, and don't use one you think is damaged.
Kerosene and other fuel-burning heaters
Use only kerosene heaters from a recognized testing laboratory with an automatic tip-over shut-off, and refuel a cooled heater outside (USFA handout). Always use the fuel the manufacturer specifies.
“All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.”NFPA, Heating Safety tip sheet
If you smell gas from a gas heater, don't light it. NFPA says to leave the home right away and call your local fire department or gas company.
Fireplaces, wood stoves and furnaces
- Have chimneys, furnaces and other heating equipment cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional (NFPA, USFA).
- Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace, and don't burn paper in a fireplace or wood stove (USFA).
- Keep a wood stove at least 3 feet from anything that can burn (USFA).
- Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave home (USFA).
“Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 10 feet from your home.”U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety handout
Never heat with the oven
“Never use an oven to heat your home.”U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety
Ready.gov says the same about a gas stovetop, because of carbon monoxide. If a winter storm knocks the power out, see our winter outage guide for generator and CO rules.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
The U.S. Fire Administration says to put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area and on every level of the home, test them monthly, and replace the whole alarm every 10 years (or as the maker says for 10-year sealed alarms). Some fire departments will install battery-operated smoke alarms at no cost; call your fire department's non-emergency number (USFA: Smoke alarms).
NFPA also says to install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms, and Ready.gov says to put CO detectors with battery backup on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill people and pets (Ready.gov). If you think someone has CO poisoning, get everyone into fresh air and call 911; see Safety first.
Common questions
Can I plug a space heater into an extension cord or power strip?
No. NFPA, CPSC and the U.S. Fire Administration all say to plug a portable heater directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip.
How far should a space heater be from furniture and curtains?
At least 3 feet. NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration say to keep anything that can burn, including bedding, clothing and curtains, at least 3 feet from a space heater.
Can I leave a space heater on overnight?
No. NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration say to turn space heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed, and CPSC says never to leave one running while you sleep.
Can I use my oven to heat my home?
No. The U.S. Fire Administration and Ready.gov say never to use an oven or gas stovetop to heat your home.
How should I get rid of fireplace ashes?
The U.S. Fire Administration says to put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 10 feet from your home.
More: Winter storms · Emergency kit checklist · Safety first