Winter Fire Safety in Oklahoma: Heating, Electrical & Fireplace Risks Homeowners Should Know
When temperatures drop across Oklahoma, homes and businesses begin using furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters, generators and other heating equipment that may have been sitting unused for months.
That change in how we heat and power our properties can also increase the potential for a structure fire.
Winter fire safety isn’t just about having working smoke alarms. It means understanding how heating equipment, overloaded electrical circuits, fireplaces, generators and power outages can create hazards—and knowing what to do before an emergency happens.
Bulldog Restoration provides professional fire damage restoration (https://www.405dryfast.com/fire)
for residential and commercial properties throughout Oklahoma City, Edmond and surrounding Oklahoma communities.
Why Winter Can Create Additional Fire Hazards
Cold weather changes what happens inside a building.
Windows and doors stay closed. Heating equipment runs longer. Portable heaters come out of storage. Fireplaces are used more frequently. Extension cords and generators may be used during power outages.
Individually, these aren’t necessarily dangerous. Problems often develop when equipment is damaged, improperly installed, poorly maintained or used for something it wasn’t designed to do.
The U.S. Fire Administration’s heating fire safety guidance (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/heating/)
recommends keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating sources and having heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.
Have Your Heating System Checked Before Winter
Your central heating system may operate for hours at a time during an Oklahoma cold snap.
Before heavy winter use, consider having the system inspected and serviced by a qualified HVAC professional.
Depending on the type of system, maintenance may identify issues involving burners, heat exchangers, electrical components, venting, wiring or other components before they become bigger problems.
Also keep the area around furnaces, air handlers and other heating equipment free from combustible storage.
Cardboard boxes, paper products, gasoline, paint, cleaning chemicals and other combustible or flammable materials don’t belong next to heating equipment.
Space Heaters Need Space
Portable heaters can provide additional warmth, but they require careful placement and operation.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from portable heaters and other heating equipment.
That includes:
● Bedding
● Curtains
● Furniture
● Clothing
● Paper
● Cardboard
● Rugs
● Upholstered furniture
Place heaters on a solid, stable surface where they are unlikely to be knocked over.
The U.S. Fire Administration also recommends plugging portable heaters directly into wall outlets rather than extension cords or power strips and turning them off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Never use a heater with a damaged cord, plug or housing.
Don’t Overload Electrical Circuits Trying to Stay Warm
Portable electric heaters can draw a substantial electrical load.
Problems can occur when several high-demand appliances are operated on the same circuit or when unsuitable extension cords, power strips or adapters are used.
Warning signs that should not be ignored include:
● Warm or hot outlets
● Discolored receptacles
● Flickering lights
● Repeatedly tripping breakers
● Burning odors
● Buzzing or crackling sounds
● Damaged plugs
● Melted or discolored cords
The U.S. Fire Administration’s electrical fire safety guidance (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/appliance-and-electrical/)
recommends against overloading outlets or power strips and advises replacing worn or damaged electrical cords.
If an outlet, electrical panel or appliance shows signs of overheating, stop using the equipment and have the condition evaluated by a qualified electrician.
Never defeat or bypass a circuit breaker because it continues tripping. The breaker may be warning you about a problem that needs attention.
Fireplace Safety Starts Before You Light the First Fire
A fireplace can make a home comfortable during cold Oklahoma weather, but fireplaces and chimneys require maintenance.
Before regular seasonal use, homeowners with wood-burning fireplaces should consider having the fireplace, chimney and flue professionally inspected and cleaned when appropriate.
Keep combustible decorations and furniture away from the fireplace, use an appropriate fireplace screen and never leave an active fire unattended.
Ashes can also remain hot much longer than they appear.
Place fireplace ashes in an appropriate covered metal container and keep the container outside and away from combustible structures and materials until the ashes are completely cold.
Never Use Your Oven to Heat the House
When electricity or primary heat is lost during a winter storm, people sometimes look for alternative ways to warm their home.
Never use a gas oven or range as a substitute for a home heating system.
The U.S. Fire Administration specifically warns against using an oven to heat a home.
Cooking appliances were not designed to heat living spaces and can create serious carbon monoxide and fire hazards when misused.
The same applies to charcoal grills, outdoor cooking appliances and other fuel-burning equipment that was not designed for indoor heating.
If a winter power outage causes indoor temperatures to become unsafe and you cannot safely heat the property, relocating to a heated location is safer than improvising with equipment that wasn’t designed for that purpose.
Power outages can also create another winter threat. Without normal heat, plumbing may freeze and rupture. If your property experiences frozen or burst plumbing, Bulldog Restoration provides water damage restoration in Oklahoma City (https://www.405dryfast.com/oklahoma-city-water),
including emergency water extraction and structural drying.
Portable Generators Must Stay Outside
Generators can be extremely valuable during Oklahoma winter power outages, but they must be operated safely.
Never operate a portable generator inside a house, garage, basement, enclosed porch or other enclosed or partially enclosed area.
Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which cannot be seen or smelled.
The CDC’s generator safety guidance (https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/use-a-generator-safely.html)
recommends operating portable generators outdoors at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and vents.
The CDC also recommends using battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors when operating a generator.
Extension Cords Aren’t Permanent Wiring
Winter storms often lead homeowners to run extension cords for generators and other emergency equipment.
Use cords that are properly rated for the equipment and environment in which they’re being used.
Never continue using a cord that is:
● Frayed
● Cracked
● Melted
● Pinched
● Missing its grounding pin
● Hot during normal operation
● Improperly sized for the electrical load
Do not run extension cords underneath rugs or carpets where damage and overheating may go unnoticed.
If you need a permanent electrical solution, have the work performed properly rather than relying indefinitely on temporary wiring.
Candles Can Become a Bigger Hazard During Power Outages
Candles may seem like an obvious source of emergency lighting, but flashlights and battery-powered lanterns are generally a safer choice during an outage.
If candles are used, keep them well away from curtains, bedding, paper and other combustible materials, and never leave them unattended.
Homes with children or pets require particular caution because a candle can easily be knocked over.
Keeping several flashlights, lanterns and charged battery banks ready before storm season reduces the need to depend on open flames for emergency lighting.
Smoke Alarms Are Your First Warning
Every home should have properly located and functioning smoke alarms.
Test them regularly and replace batteries and alarm units according to manufacturer recommendations.
Homes using fuel-burning heating equipment should also have properly installed carbon monoxide detectors.
Businesses, apartments and larger commercial properties have additional fire-alarm and life-safety requirements and should maintain those systems according to applicable requirements.
An alarm only helps if it works when you need it.
Have a Fire Extinguisher—and Know Its Limitations
Keeping appropriate fire extinguishers readily accessible can be useful for certain small, early-stage fires.
However, an extinguisher should never give someone false confidence to remain inside a dangerous structure.
If a fire is spreading, producing significant smoke or cannot be safely controlled immediately, evacuate and call 911.
Property can be replaced. People cannot.
Fire Damage Is Often Much Larger Than the Burned Area
After a structure fire, the visibly burned area tells only part of the story.
Smoke and soot can travel throughout a building and affect areas far away from the original fire.
Depending on the loss, damage may involve:
● Walls and ceilings
● HVAC systems
● Insulation
● Flooring
● Cabinets
● Furniture
● Electronics
● Clothing
● Documents
● Personal belongings
● Commercial inventory
● Equipment
● Structural materials
Smoke residues can also vary depending on what burned.
That is why professional fire damage restoration (https://www.405dryfast.com/fire)
involves much more than wiping visible soot from a wall.
Don’t Start Cleaning Soot With Household Cleaners
After firefighters leave, the natural reaction is often to begin cleaning immediately.
That can sometimes make the situation worse.
Different fire residues require different cleaning methods. Improper cleaning can smear soot, drive residues farther into porous materials or create additional staining.
Before extensively cleaning fire-damaged surfaces, it is important to understand what materials were affected and what type of residue is present.
Smoke Can Travel Through the HVAC System
If a heating or cooling system was operating during a fire, smoke and airborne residues may travel through portions of the HVAC system.
Avoid automatically turning the system back on after a significant fire until the condition of the system has been evaluated.
Restarting contaminated equipment may redistribute smoke odors or particulates into areas that were otherwise less affected.
Firefighting Can Create a Second Type of Property Damage
Water used to extinguish a structure fire can create significant additional damage.
Fire hoses, sprinkler systems and damaged plumbing may leave substantial amounts of water inside the property.
That water can migrate beneath flooring, into wall cavities, through ceilings and into insulation or other concealed areas.
For larger commercial losses, fire suppression can create a substantial water-removal and drying project in addition to the fire restoration itself.
Bulldog Restoration provides commercial water damage restoration in Oklahoma City (https://www.405dryfast.com/commercial-water-damage-restoration-okc)
when fire suppression, sprinkler activation or damaged plumbing creates significant water intrusion.
Contents Can Be a Major Part of Fire Restoration
A fire affects more than the building itself.
Furniture, clothing, electronics, documents, inventory, equipment and personal belongings may all be exposed to smoke, soot, heat or water.
Depending on the condition of the property, contents may need to be documented, inventoried, packed out, cleaned, stored or evaluated for replacement.
For businesses, quickly addressing contents and equipment can also become an important part of restoring operations.
Commercial Fires Require a Coordinated Response
A fire in a school, healthcare property, apartment complex, warehouse, office building or other commercial facility can involve multiple priorities at once.
Beyond structural damage, the loss may affect:
● Employees
● Tenants
● Customers
● Inventory
● Equipment
● Records
● Security
● Utilities
● Building access
● Business operations
Bulldog Restoration provides commercial fire damage restoration (https://www.405dryfast.com/commerical-fire-damage-restoration)
for Oklahoma businesses and commercial properties requiring coordinated fire, smoke, soot and contents restoration.
What to Do After Firefighters Leave
Do not enter the property until emergency personnel or the appropriate authorities say it is safe to do so.
Once access is permitted, the next steps may include securing the property, documenting conditions, contacting the insurance carrier and beginning the restoration assessment.
Avoid throwing damaged property away before it has been appropriately documented.
Photographs and detailed records can be important during the insurance-claim process.
Prepare for a Fire Before Winter Arrives
A few preparations before Oklahoma’s coldest weather can make a significant difference.
Before winter:
● Test smoke alarms.
● Test carbon monoxide detectors.
● Inspect heating equipment.
● Check fireplaces and chimneys.
● Examine portable heaters.
● Replace damaged electrical cords.
● Keep combustibles away from heating equipment.
● Check fire extinguishers.
● Prepare flashlights and battery-powered lighting.
● Review your family’s evacuation plan.
● Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside.
● Keep emergency numbers readily available.
Businesses should also review emergency contacts, evacuation procedures, utility shutoffs and the people responsible for making decisions after a property loss.
Fire, Smoke & Contents Restoration in Oklahoma
A structure fire can happen in minutes, but recovery can involve the entire property.
Bulldog Restoration provides professional fire damage restoration for residential and commercial properties throughout Oklahoma City, Edmond and surrounding Oklahoma communities.
Our fire restoration services include evaluation of fire and smoke damage, soot cleanup, odor treatment, contents restoration, pack-out services and coordination of the restoration process.
For larger businesses and facilities, Bulldog Restoration also provides commercial fire damage restoration (https://www.405dryfast.com/commerical-fire-damage-restoration).
If your home or business experiences a fire, get everyone to safety and call 911 first. Once the fire department releases the property and restoration can safely begin, call Bulldog Restoration.
Bulldog Restoration
Fire Damage Restoration • Smoke & Soot Cleanup • Contents Restoration • Commercial Fire Restoration
405-990-8481
Local Since 1996