Sunday evening house fire caused by improper heating of home

Photos courtesy of Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services

On Sunday, October 20, 2019, just after 3:00 pm, the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services was dispatched to the 8000 block of Winchester Road for a reported residential structure fire.

Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and reported a working fire in a two-story single family dwelling. Firefighters were able to verify that the sole occupant of the home had self-evacuated and removed 5 dogs from within the residence. The occupant, who was asleep at the time the fire occurred, was awoken by her dogs and discovered the fire. It took firefighters approximately 10 minutes to contain the fire. Crews were assisted on the scene by Warren County Sheriff’s Deputies and Animal Control Officers.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators determined the fire resulted due to an upholstered sectional couch being placed too close to electric baseboard heater. The fire caused an estimated $60,000 in damages. The occupants, who were displaced from the home as a result of the fire, received assistance from the American Red Cross.

Fire Chief Richard E. Mabie stated “Heating of the home is the second leading cause of home fires nationwide. As the weather turns cold, we remind our community to utilize these safety tips to prevent the unthinkable”:

• Keep all flammables, like paper, clothing, bedding, drapes or rugs, at least 3 feet from baseboard heaters, space heaters, wood-stoves or a fireplace.
• Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heaters and make sure fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room.
• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, nonflammable surface, like ceramic tile, not on a rug or carpet.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over.
• Have your furnace and chimney professionally inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. Chimney tar buildup is a common cause of chimney fires.
• Dispose of hot ashes in covered metal containers placed away from the house.

This is also the perfect time to check your smoke alarm. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year. Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm, which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened. If you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home, contact us at 540-636-3830 to learn how to have them installed at free of charge.