During winter, fire deaths increase by almost 75 percent across the state of Tennessee, according to state fire data. Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fire deaths nationally and the second leading known cause in Tennessee.

Heat Sources: Here are a few fire safety tips to remember when using a portable heater, chimney, fireplace, or wood burning stove.

  • Always turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Never use your oven to heat your home.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected every year.
  • Burn only dry, seasoned wood in fireplaces and wood stoves. Never burn garbage or use flammable liquids to start a fire.
  • Make sure any fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying out.
  • Install wood burning stoves following manufacturer’s instructions or have a professional do the installation. All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • If you smell gas coming from your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company

Christmas trees are among the cornerstones of the holiday season, but a dry Christmas tree can pose a fire safety threat to homeowners.

  • Never place your Christmas tree near heating equipment, fireplaces, candles or other sources of heat. Always keep your Christmas tree watered to prevent it from drying out.
  • • If you choose an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled and certified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
    • If you choose a live tree, select one with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Cooking: In Tennessee, 24.9% of reported structure fires in 2019 involved cooking equipment. Those 1,541 fires that involved cooking equipment resulted in eight civilian fatalities, 41 civilian injuries, three firefighter injuries and nearly $4.3 million in direct property damage, according to the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System.

Here are a few tips to remember as you whip up all your favorites in the kitchen.

  • Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking unattended
  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — at least three feet away from your stovetop.
  • Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
  • If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food — check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
  • Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.

In the house remember these tips to stay safe.

  • Keep flammable items like blankets or furniture at least three feet away from space heaters and wood stoves.
  • Practice a home fire escape plan with your family. Everyone should know two ways out of each room.
  • Never smoke in a home where medical oxygen is present. The increased presence of oxygen in the air makes fire burn hotter and faster.

Information provided by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office