Heating

The leading factor contributing to heating equipment fires was failure to clean. This usually involved creosote build-up in chimneys.
Portable or fixed space heaters, including wood stoves, were involved in one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) home heating deaths.
Just over half of home heating fire deaths resulted from fires caused by heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.
In most years, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths, and fire injuries.