Winter Fire Safety in Nebraska: Space Heaters, Fireplaces, and Dryer Vents

Most winter house fires trace back to a short list of causes: heating equipment placed too close to something that burns, chimneys that have not been cleaned, and dryer vents packed with lint. A few inexpensive habits handle most of the risk. In Nebraska, where furnaces and space heaters can run from October into April, it is worth taking care of them before the first hard cold snap.

Space heaters

Portable heaters are safe when used as designed. Problems come from where they sit and what they are plugged into.

• Keep three feet of clearance on all sides from bedding, curtains, furniture, paper, and anything else that can burn.
• Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet. Extension cords and power strips are not built for the load and can overheat.
• Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Choose a heater with tip-over and overheat shutoff and a label from an independent testing laboratory.
• Set it on a flat, stable spot on the floor, out of walkways and away from children and pets.
• Check the cord and plug. A plug or outlet that feels warm means stop using it.

A typical portable heater draws about as much power as a household circuit can comfortably supply. That matters most in older houses. Many homes in midtown Omaha and central Lincoln have fewer outlets and older wiring than newer suburban construction. If breakers trip, lights dim, or outlets discolor when the heater runs, have an electrician look at it before using the heater again.

Fireplaces and wood stoves

Have the chimney inspected

Fire safety organizations recommend an annual chimney inspection, with cleaning as needed. Burning wood leaves creosote on the inside of the flue. Enough buildup can ignite, and a chimney fire can spread into the framing around it.

Nebraska's freeze-thaw cycles are also hard on masonry. Water gets into small cracks in the crown and mortar joints, freezes, and widens them. Older chimneys may have damaged or missing liners, which an inspection will catch.

Burn the right fuel

Burn dry, seasoned firewood. Do not burn trash, cardboard, wrapping paper, or evergreen branches, which flare up quickly and send sparks up the flue.

Handle ashes carefully

Ashes are one of the most common ways a fireplace causes a fire after everyone thought it was out. Embers can stay hot for days.

1. Let ashes cool in the firebox as long as you can.
2. Shovel them into a metal container with a tight metal lid.
3. Store the container outside, on a non-combustible surface, well away from the house, deck, garage, and woodpile.

Never put ashes in a paper bag, cardboard box, or plastic bin, and never leave the container in the garage.

Other fireplace basics

• Use a screen or glass doors to contain sparks.
• Make sure the fire is out before going to bed.
• Have gas fireplaces serviced on the schedule the manufacturer recommends.

Dryer vents

Lint is highly flammable, and what the filter misses collects in the vent duct.

• Clean the lint filter before every load.
• Clean the full vent duct at least once a year, from the back of the dryer to the outside wall. Long runs and runs with several bends need it more often.
• Replace plastic or thin foil duct with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct.
• Check the exterior vent hood after snowstorms. Drifted snow and ice can block the flap, and so can bird nests in spring.
• Do not run the dryer while you are asleep or away.

Warning signs of a restricted vent:

• Clothes take longer than usual to dry
• A burning smell during a cycle
• The outside flap barely opens when the dryer is running

A blocked vent on a gas dryer is also a carbon monoxide concern, because exhaust gases cannot leave the house.

Furnaces, frozen pipes, and power outages

• Furnace. Change the filter on schedule, have the system serviced, and keep storage, paint, and boxes at least three feet away from the furnace and water heater.
• Frozen pipes. Do not thaw pipes with a torch or any open flame. Use a hair dryer or warm towels, or call a plumber. Torches start fires inside wall cavities, and a pipe that has already split will need water damage restoration once it thaws.
• Generators. During ice storm outages, run generators outdoors only, far from doors, windows, and the garage.

Alarms and a plan

• Install smoke alarms on every level, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace the units according to the manufacturer's date.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level and near bedrooms.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen and learn how to use it before you need it.
• Agree on two ways out of each room and a meeting spot outside. Keep exterior doors and basement egress windows clear of snow.

One more item that takes ten minutes: walk through the house with your phone and record a video of your belongings, room by room. If you ever need to file a claim, that record helps. Our insurance claims page explains what else adjusters usually ask for.

A pre-winter checklist

• Chimney inspected and cleaned if needed
• Furnace serviced and filter changed
• Dryer vent duct cleaned, exterior hood clear
• Space heaters checked for cord damage and shutoff features
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested
• Metal ash container with a lid ready outside

At Air Force Restoration, we see the results when these small tasks get skipped, and even a fire that is caught quickly can leave smoke residue through much of a house. An hour of prevention in the fall is far less disruptive than fire and smoke damage restoration in January.