After some chilly days and even colder nights on the Fleurieu to start off winter, a timely warning has been issued about the danger heaters can pose.

The Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) cautions incorrect use of heaters can increase the risk of losing homes and lives during winter.

On average, the MFS and Country Fire Service (CFS) fight up to 60 fires linked to home heating every year. 

MFS Community Safety Officer Angelo Mastripolito says many of the incidents they see have a common link.

“One of the leading causes of home heating fires is having clothes, bedding or other flammable items too close to heaters and open fires,” Mr Mastripolito says.

“Our rule of thumb is to keep anything flammable two metres from the heater this winter. That’s because beds, curtains, furniture and clothes hung on clothes airers can too easily catch alight.”

Posing another threat during winter is heaters in bedrooms, with the MFS cautioning people to leave a safe space between heaters and beds.

“People can become too hot in their sleep, kick bedding off and continue to sleep. If a heater is too close, that can result in your bedding touching the heater, causing your bed and bedroom to catch alight. It’s a situation that could quickly turn fatal,” Mr Mastripolito says.

The MFS provide the following tips for safe heating in your home this winter:

• Keep any flammable items well away from heaters and fires. This includes a two-metre clearance for clothes, bedding, furniture, curtains and other combustibles. 
• Clothes airers placed near heaters or fires are a high fire risk. To reduce the risk, maintain a distance so that if they fall or are knocked over, clothing is kept away from the heat. 
• Turn all heating off when leaving the house.
• Do not leave portable heaters running for extended periods of time.
• Discontinue any faulty heating equipment immediately. Get it repaired by a qualified electrician or replace with a new product.
• Choose a portable heater that has an automatic safety OFF switch in case it is knocked over. 

The MFS urges that early detection is vital. This winter, combine the provided safety tips with smoke alarms that are hardwired and interconnected, and less than 10 years old.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay