Heat and Fire Safety: Staying Warm Without Power
Stay warm safely when the power is out, care for wood stoves and chimneys, use space heaters correctly, and keep extinguishers and alarms ready.
⚠ Never heat your home with an oven or gas range
Never use a cooking oven or stove to heat your home, not even for a short time. It can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and fires.[11][1][10]
- Never bring generators, grills, camp stoves, or outdoor heaters inside.[8][11]
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source.[1][2]
- Install CO alarms on every level of your home.[9] Choose ones with battery backup.[11]
- If you feel sick, dizzy, or weak, get to fresh air right away.[11]
Losing heat in winter is uncomfortable, but trying to fix it the wrong way is where people get hurt. Heating was the second leading cause of U.S. home fires in 2021.[1] These steps help you stay warm and keep fire and carbon monoxide out of the picture.
How much do I need?
The 3-6-10-12 rule. 3 feet of clear space around any heat source.[1] 6 months minimum to season firewood.[4] 10 years, then replace smoke alarms.[7] 12 times a year (monthly), test smoke alarms.[7]
Staying warm when the power is out
- Wear layers, hats, and warm socks, and keep blankets or sleeping bags handy.[12]
- Pick one room to keep warm and seal drafts around its windows.[9]
- If it gets very cold, plan to go somewhere with heat.[9]
- Use battery lights, not candles.[11]
- Know the early signs of hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature): shivering, then confusion, drowsiness, or slurred speech. Get emergency care if you see them.[11]
Wood stoves, fireplaces, and firewood
- Burn only dry, split, seasoned wood. Season it for at least six months, stored outdoors off the ground with just the top covered.[4]
- Wood burns best below 20% moisture; a moisture meter can check.[4]
- Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene, or charcoal lighter fluid.[4]
- Have chimneys and heating equipment cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.[2][1] NFPA 211 is the national standard that covers chimneys, fireplaces, and wood-burning appliances.[5]
- Use a sturdy fireplace screen. Let ashes cool, put them in a covered metal container, and keep it outside on a surface that won't burn, away from the house.[2][4]
Space heater rules
- Choose a heater with a testing-lab seal, a thermostat, overheat protection, and automatic tip-over shutoff.[3]
- Keep it at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including people, on a flat, solid surface, out of walkways.[3]
- Plug electric heaters straight into the wall, never an extension cord.[3]
- Turn heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.[1][3]
- Fuel-burning heaters: use only the fuel the maker specifies, and vent fuel-burning equipment outside.[2]
Extinguishers, smoke alarms, and CO alarms
Extinguishers: a multipurpose "ABC" extinguisher covers most home fires: ordinary materials, flammable liquids, and electrical fires.[6] Pick the largest one you can comfortably handle. Use it only if the fire is small, everyone is alerted, 911 is called, and you have a clear way out.[6] Remember PASS: Pull the pin, Aim low at the base, Squeeze slowly, Sweep side to side.[6]
Smoke alarms: put them inside and outside each bedroom and on every level, including the basement. Test them monthly and replace the whole alarm every 10 years.[7]
CO alarms: put them in central spots on every level and outside sleeping areas, and test them regularly.[8] If you have oil, gas, or wood-burning equipment in the basement, put one there too.[13]
Checklist
Mistakes to avoid
- Heating the house with the oven or gas stove
- Bringing a grill, camp stove, or outdoor heater inside
- Running a space heater on an extension cord
- Burning wet or green firewood
- Dumping warm ashes in a paper bag or plastic bin
- Skipping the yearly chimney inspection
Do this this weekend
Push the test button on every smoke and CO alarm in your home. Then walk each room and clear a 3-foot zone around every heater, stove, and fireplace.[1]
Gear that helps
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. We list items for why they matter, never by price or ratings. Disclosure
- Fire extinguishersABC fire extinguisherRated for the common household fire types; keep one in the kitchen and one near the garage.Check it (opens retailer site)
- Smoke alarmsSmoke and CO combination alarm (battery)One device covers both fire and carbon monoxide; test it monthly.Check it (opens retailer site)
- Carbon monoxide alarmsBattery-powered carbon monoxide alarmKeeps working when the power is out, which is exactly when generator and heater CO risk goes up.Check it (opens retailer site)
- Headlamps and lightsLED headlampKeeps both hands free and is safer than candles in an outage.Check it (opens retailer site)
- Headlamps and lightsBattery LED lanternLights a whole room without fire risk.Check it (opens retailer site)
Sources
- Home Heating Fire Safety US Fire Administration
- Heating Safety Tip Sheet NFPA
- Electric Portable Space Heater Safety Tip Sheet NFPA
- Best Wood-Burning Practices (Burn Wise) EPA
- NFPA 211: Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances NFPA
- Choosing and Using Fire Extinguishers US Fire Administration
- Smoke Alarms US Fire Administration
- Generator Safety Red Cross
- Power Outage Safety Red Cross
- Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning EPA
- Winter Storm Safety Red Cross
- Survival Kit Supplies Red Cross
- Basement and Garage Fire Safety US Fire Administration
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