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Fire Safety

Space Heaters

Give Space Heaters Space
Place all space heaters at least three feet (one meter) away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything that might burn. Turn off space heaters when you leave home or go to bed. Keep children and pets well away from them.

Liquid Fuel Safety
If your space heater runs on liquid fuel, such as kerosene, let the heater cool down before refuelling it. Adding fuel to a hot heater can cause the fuel to ignite. Refuel your heaters outside, where spills won't present a fire hazard. Use only the fuel recommended by your heater's manufacturer. Never use substitutes or a lower-grade fuel. NEVER put gasoline in any space heater.

Refuel a kerosene heater only with kerosene. Refuel it outside, after the heater has cooled down.

Gas Fuelled Heaters
Check vents periodically to make sure they are not blocked. Never install unvented gas heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms, where the small room size poses an added danger of rapid carbon monoxide build-up.

Electrical Heaters
Inspect the cords on electric heaters. Have an electrician replace frayed, cracked, or damaged cords. If cords overheat when the heater is in use, have the unit inspected and serviced. Your heater should have the following:

  1. U.L. (Underwriter's Laboratory) listing.
  2. A safety alarm that you can hear if the heater tips over.
  3. A safety light.
  4. Safety information on the heater.
  5. A power cord with safety information on it.
  6. A carrying handle.
  7. A safety tip over switch.
  8. An overheated cut-off device.

All portable heating equipment should bear the label of an independent test laboratory, indicating that the heater has met basic safety standards.