Source: http://www.nfpa.org/

In 2007, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 66,400 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 580 civilian deaths, 1,850 civilian injuries, and $608 million in direct property damage.  These fires accounted for 17% of all reported home fires.

Facts & figures

Based on 2003-2007 annual averages:

• Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third (32%) of home heating fires and over three-fourths (79%) of home heating fire deaths.
• The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (25%) was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
• Placing things that can burn too close to heating equipment or placing heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding, was the leading factor contributing to ignition in fatal home heating fires and accounted for close to half (46%) of home heating fire deaths.
• Half (49%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.
• Other concerns with space heaters include natural gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, burns and electric shock.

Source: NFPA’s “Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment” report by John R. Hall, Jr., January 2010.

Also see: Fact sheet on home heating fires. (PDF, 61 KB)

Related: NFPA fact sheet on carbon monoxide poisoning.

In 2006, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported home structure fires, 540 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and $943 million in direct property damage. In 2006, most home heating fire deaths (73%) and, injuries (43%) and half (51%) of associated direct property damage involved stationary or portable space heaters. Space heating poses a much higher risk of fire, death, injury, and loss per million users than central heating. Comparisons of risk among different types of space heaters or different types of central heating show no clear, consistent, significant differences.

NFPA and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASRAE) have joined together to offer a free brochure of energy and fire safety tips for the heating season.
Download this brochure (PDF, 425 KB).

AUDIO: Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Communications, talks about home heating safety: An introduction to NFPA’s home heating report NFPA home heating survey results Leading factors contributing to home heating related fires? The issues of space heaters? Safety tips for home heating