Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink is joining the American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association in warning Floridians about the risks of using alternative and unconventional heating sources to keep home heating bills down as fuel costs rise.
The American Red Cross and NFPA released the results of a survey showing that up to half of respondents intended to use stoves and ovens to keep warm in addition to portable space heaters and fireplaces — all of which pose fire hazards.
“More deaths occur in home fires than in any other kind of fire,” Sink said. “For your safety and your family’s safety, please think twice about using stoves and ovens for anything other than cooking, use space heaters with an automatic shutoff and make sure your fireplaces are clean.”
Adults between 18 and 24 were more likely than others to say they will use the oven to keep the kitchen warm this winter (17 percent versus 7 percent for all households). Meanwhile 36 percent of people with fireplaces said they never cleaned or inspected their chimneys, and 23 percent said they did not consider it essential to be home if food is cooking on the stove.
In 2007, more than 23,700 Florida homes caught fire, resulting in more than 144 deaths, and 592 injuries. And more home fires occur in December than any other month.
Residents are not the only ones at risk when a fire occurs. One-hundred forty-two Florida firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty, including four firefighters who died last year, Sink said.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Surplus Lines Commercial Growth; Fla. Litigation Costs Reach New High in 2023 
Hard Market Conditions Expected to Ease in 2025 as Claims Inflation Softens: Swiss Re 
Progressive Q2 Net Income Skyrockets Over 320% 
Deere Retreats From Diversity Measures After Online Attacks From This Issue
