Approaching chilly weather and a drooping economy could combine for a dangerous combination in many Missouri homes soon. Safety officials expect more people than usual to turn to alternative heat sources this winter–electric and kerosene space heaters, for example. Some people might even move into their kitchen and use their stoves for heat..
Some of these ideas represent certain levels of desperation….but they all represent certain levels of danger to state fire marshal Randy Cole. He says common sense can be the key to safe use of heating appliances and devices, from space heaters to fire places and wood-burning stoves.
Cole says it’s important to check the flues of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves to make sure they’re clear and open. He says some space heaters are safer than others. He says the safest devices are certified by a national rating organization such as Underwriters Laboratory. Cole says it’s important to keep the devices away from flammable materials—and it’s important not to go to sleep with one of them on.