Firefighters are warning people to be careful how they choose to heat their homes, as fires are common when the temperatures drop.
The roads are clearing in many areas, but there’s another threat looming. Many cities will see the temperature drop into the teens the next few mornings across Western Washington, and communities need to be prepared.
David Cuerpo with the Seattle Fire Department says that fire safety knowledge is key.
“Unfortunately, heating-related fires are one of the more common fires we see through the year,” Cuerpo said.
Seattle firefighters say that when temperatures drop, the number of fire calls heats up.
“We respond to a few a year, especially in these colder temps. In fact, we’ve had a couple just this past month,” Cuerpo said.
He tells us space heaters themselves aren’t the issue, it’s where they are placed.
“Fires can grow exponentially, especially if they have fuel to burn, so if there’s clothing or curtains and piece of furniture that can catch fire that can grow so fast in the matter of 30 seconds to a minute, an entire room could be on fire,” Cuerpo said.
The source of power also matters.
“Make sure you plug them into an outlet don’t use an extension cord or power strip because the high wattage they use can cause a power strip or cord to catch fire,” Cuerpo said.
Fireplaces are the second most common heating issue in the winter.
“Make sure you clean the vent for the fireplace, so that way when you’re using it, it vents properly and you don’t have smoke or carbon monoxide build up in the home,” he tells us.
It’s easy to prevent by cleaning it in the early fall before it gets too cold.
“Debris from leaves or any other stuff can actually get to the vent of a fireplace, we’ve seen bird nests that form due to inactivity,” Cuerpo said.
A good rule of thumb is to keep all sources of heat at least three feet away from anything else. It’s also good to put a metal cover on fireplaces to keep embers in and kids or pets out.
Firefighters say you should have a fire extinguisher in your home, but if you don’t feel comfortable tackling the fire, get out and call 911.
©2025 Cox Media Group
