Fires and Explosions

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• Burn Injuries
• Hazardous Product Recalls
• Apartment Fires
• Furniture Fires
• Home Fire
  • Child Smoke Alarm
  • Space Heater Fire
• Natural Gas Explosions
• Fire Accidents
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Fireplace and Space Heater Fire Hazards

Home heating equipment is one of the most common causes of residential structure fires, second only to cooking fires.

1. Fireplaces and Chimneys.  Fireplaces and chimneys are the number one source of home heating equipment fires. They account for about 60 % of the nearly 36,000 estimated home heating equipment fires each year.
   
2. Portable/Space Heaters.  Portable heaters, including space heaters, are usually the top cause of deaths in home heating equipment fires. Portable heater fires are responsible for about 100 of the estimated 240 deaths each year associated with home heating equipment.  Check for portable heater/space heater recalls.  The lawyers at Pritzker | Ruohonen have recovered millions for clients injured by defective products.  To contact an attorney at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail info@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out the online, attorney-consultation form.

Fireplace Safety

• Have flues and chimneys inspected before each heating season for leakage and blockage by creosote or debris.
  
• Open the fireplace damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. Never close the damper if the ashes are still warm. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the home.
  
• Store fireplace ashes in a fire resistant container and cover it with a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from combustibles.

Space Heater/Portable Heater Safety

• Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
  
• To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the space heater off if you leave the area.
  
• Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features; older space heaters may not meet the newer safety standards. An unvented gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if oxygen levels fall too low.