With winter approaching, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging consumers to be vigilant against carbon monoxide and fires in their homes.

There were about 356,000 residential fires each year from 1999-2003. Home heating equipment is one of the most common causes of residential fires, second only to cooking fires.

There were more than 100 carbon monoxide-related deaths from home heating products in 2002. Schedule a professional inspection of all fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents.

This fire took place at a home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on December 8, 2005 resulting in more than $700,000 in damage to the home. It was caused by improper disposal of fireplace ashes. Two firefighters were injured battling the blaze.

Courtesy Vito Maggiolo (in upper left)

B-ROLL: Home on fire due to fireplace ashes.

A fire on December 20, 2004 in a Washington DC row house killed four family members. DC fire officials say the fire started in the basement when a space heater was placed too close to a mattress.

Courtesy Vito Maggiolo (in upper left)

Soundbites: Nancy Nord, Acting Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Fireplaces, gas-fired stoves, space heaters and furnaces can all produce deadly carbon monoxide. Consumers need to be aware of the dangers that carbon monoxide poses and take precautions such as routine inspections of their homes which in the end can help lives.

Portable heaters, including space heaters, are the number one cause of death in home heating fires. Always keep your portable heaters at least three feet away from furniture, beds or curtains. And always turn your space heater off before going to bed.

Every home should have smoke alarms on every level and inside bedrooms, and a carbon monoxide alarm outside your sleeping area. And families should have fire escape drills at least twice a year so that you know your escape routes.

Spanish Soundbites: Arlene Flecha, Comision para la Seguridad de los Productos de Consumo de los Estados Unidos

Las chimeneas, las estufas de gas, los calefactores portátiles y las calderas pueden producir el mortal monóxido de carbono. Es importante que los consumidores tomen precauciones que les pueden salvar la vida tales como programar inspecciones profesionales periódicamente.

Los calefactores portátiles son la causa principal del las muertes asociadas a incendios de equipos para calentar el hogar. Mantenga su calefactor portátil a por lo menos 3 pies de distancia de las camas, los muebles y las cortinas. Y NUNCA lo deje encendido cuando vaya a dormir.

Cada hogar debe tener alarmas de humo en cada nivel de la casa y dentro de los cuartos y alarmas para monóxido de carbono fuera de las áreas para dormir. También es importante que dos veces al año lleve a cabo un simulacro de incendio con toda su familia.

Fireplaces and chimneys are the number one source of fires involving home heating equipment, with more than 21,000 fires each year from 1999-2003. 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.

B-ROLL: Crackling fire in fireplace. Inspection of fireplace and chimney. Adjusting the damper and the screen of fireplace.

Portable heaters, including space heaters, are the top cause of deaths in home heating equipment-related fires. Portable heater fires resulted in about 100 of the total 240 estimated deaths each year associated with home heating equipment from 1999-2003.

Choose a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. New heaters have the most up-to-date safety features such as automatic cut-off devices which turn off electric or kerosene heaters if they tip over. Newer heaters also have more guarding around the heating coils to help prevent fires.

B-ROLL: Shots of new heater being set up in home setting. Tip-over to show cut off feature.

Place the portable 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 heater off if you leave the area or when you get ready to go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from space heaters. Do not use a kitchen range as a heater.

B-ROLL: Heater at a safe distance from flammable materials. Heater being turned off before leaving a room.

CPSC staff worked to upgrade the industry standards for unvented gas heaters and propane heaters to provide an oxygen depletion sensor to shut off the heater if the oxygen level drops too low. Never use a portable heater indoors if it does not have this technology.

B-ROLL: Shots of camping heaters with the oxygen depletion sensor. Heater in test chamber turns itself off when oxygen level falls too low.

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.

B-ROLL: Smoke alarm and CO alarm tests and installation.

Use gasoline-powered generators outside in a dry area, far away from windows, doors, vents and air intakes to the home. Never use generators indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, or other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even with ventilation.

B-ROLL: Generator being set up outdoors and turned on.

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.

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