Now that January is approaching the halfway mark and with energy costs leading to an increase in the use of alternative home heating sources, it is never too late to re-familiarize yourself with fire safety precautions for the remaining winter months.

This blog is the first in a multipart series directed towards fire prevention for the winter season. Fires caused by residential heating sources account for more than one-third of fires in rural areas. The United States Fire Administration reports that there were 17,675 civilian injuries due to fires in 2007 out of an estimated 1.6 million fires. The year 2005 in Iowa resulted in 13.8 deaths per million people, which was higher than the national average. Each winter, more than a half million fires cause $3 billion in property loss and result in almost 2,000 deaths.

During the winter months, fires are much more prevalent due to the use of home heating sources and holiday decorations. Because fires are more common during the winter, you should take that much more care during the winter to ensure that the proper steps are taken to prevent fires. This series will discuss: when and how to use fire extinguishers; the stop, drop, and roll technique; electrical fire prevention; Christmas tree fires; home heating safety; smoke alarms; and carbon monoxide detectors.