Heater and Fireplace Hazards
Press Release # 04-069
Transcript
TEXT: Burned home in Fairmount Heights, Md., where 13-year-old girl died in fire ignited by electric space heater.
(View of burned home and damaged material in surrounding area. View of news clipping related to this fire).
TEXT: Choose 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, while older space heaters may not meet newer safety standards. CPSC worked to upgrade industry standards for electric, kerosene, and vented and unvented gas space heaters.
An automatic cut-off device is now required to turn off electric or kerosene heaters if they tip over. More guarding around the heating coils of electric heaters and the burner of kerosene heaters also is required to prevent fires.
(View of electric space heater on floor, view of man working at desk near electric space heater. View of man standing up and knocking over the space heater, which turns off automatically after impact).
TEXT: CPSC worked to upgrade the industry standards for unvented gas heaters and propane heaters to provide an oxygen depletion sensor to shut off hte heater if the oxygen level drops too low.
(View of space heater boxes advertising such sensors. View of two such space heaters. View of person turning on space heater under normal circumstances. Various views of space heater in texting area and computer monitors which are showing oxygen levels in the area. Space heater automatically shuts off).
TEXT: Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture, or other flammable materials.
Turn the space heater off if you leave the area or get ready to go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from space heaters. Do not use a kitchen range as a heater.
(View of man plugging in a space heater and placing it safely on a wood floor while he reads on the nearby couch. Man stands up and turns off the space heater as he leaves the room).
TEXT: Make sure that wood stoves and fireplaces are installed according to the building codes and that the chimney is inspected and cleaned professionally. Keep a screen or glass enclosure around a fireplace to prevent sparks or embers from igniting flammable materials.
(View of fire burning in fireplace behind screen. View of professional inspecting the fireplace. View of man closing fireplace).
TEXT: Have a smoke alarm with fresh batteries on each level of the house and inside every bedroom. In addition, have a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.
(View of smoke alarm being tested for batteries, and view of carbon monoxide detector being plugged in and set up. Views of various other alarms hanging outside of sleeping areas and being tested).
TEXT: Use gasoline-powered generators outside in a dry area, away from air intakes to the home. Use charcoal outside. The charcoal bag label says: "Warning! Carbon Monoxide Hazard. Burning charcoal inside can kill you. It gives off carbon monoxide, which has no odor. NEVER burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles or tents."
(View of person closing nearby garage door before starting gasoline-powered generator outside of home. View of person going outside and away from the house to burn charcoal. View of warning label on charcoal bag. Charcoal is placed in stove on brick surface outside).
TEXT: For more information, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Hotline at (800)638-2772 or visit our web site at www.cpsc.gov.
End.