Seasonal House Fires

As Nights Turn Cold, Home Fires Rise: What Ohio Households Should Do Now

Home for the Holidays: Because nothing says Christmas like a grease fire, a space heater mishap, and a bulldog who thinks he’s earned a smoke break.

As temperatures drop, home fires climb. National and state data show clear seasonal spikes tied to heating and holiday activities—making the fall-into-winter period the most dangerous stretch of the year for residential fires.

The numbers at a glance

• U.S. (2023): An estimated 344,600 residential building fires, causing 2,890 deaths and 10,400 injuries nationwide. Cooking remains the leading cause; heating is a major driver in colder months.

• Seasonal spike: December, January, and February are the peak months for home heating fires, and December leads for overall home fires, with notable holiday-cooking surges. Nearly half of all heating fires occur in these three months.

• Ohio risk picture (2023): In residential structure fires, Ohio experienced 8.4 deaths and 34.4 injuries per 1,000 fires, compared with national averages of 5.8 deaths and 19.7 injuries—meaning Ohio’s per-fire consequences are worse than the U.S. average.

When fires spike—and why

• Heating season (Dec–Feb): Space heaters and other heating devices drive winter fire risk. Portable heaters are a small share of heating fires but account for a disproportionate number of fatal ones.

• Holidays: December leads all months for home fires. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day are top days for cooking-related fires as kitchens stay busy and distractions rise.

Hidden danger: extension cords and space heaters

One of the most common and preventable winter fire hazards is plugging a space heater into a cheap or undersized extension cord. Space heaters typically draw 1,500 watts (12–15 amps)—nearly a full household circuit. Thin, inexpensive cords (often 16- or 18-gauge) can’t handle that load safely. The wire overheats, insulation melts, and the cord itself can ignite, especially if coiled, hidden under rugs, or placed behind furniture.Always plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. If an extension cord must be used temporarily, make sure it’s heavy-duty (12- or 14-gauge), fully uncoiled, and kept in open air. Never daisy-chain cords or power strips with high-draw appliances.

Pets can start fires too

It may surprise many, but pets accidentally start nearly 1,000 home fires each year across the U.S. Dogs and cats have been known to knock over space heaters, chew electrical cords, or jump onto stoves, turning on burners when food smells linger.Most of these incidents happen in the kitchen or living areas—places with enticing smells and warm appliances. Preventing these fires means securing pets away from active cooking areas, unplugging small appliances when not in use, and keeping portable heaters stable and out of reach of tails, paws, or curious noses.

5 specific actions to reduce risk (do these this week)

1. Space heaters—treat like open flame. Keep a 3-foot clearance around heaters, plug directly into a wall outlet, place on a flat, hard surface, and turn off before sleep or leaving a room.

2. Furnace & chimney service. Have your heating system and chimneys inspected/cleaned annually; dispose of cooled fireplace ashes in a metal container outside and 10+ feet from structures.

3. Kitchen discipline. Stay with the stove when frying, keep a lid nearby to smother pan fires, and never use the oven to heat your home—especially during holiday cooking marathons.

4. Smoke alarms & escape plan. Install on every level, in each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas; test monthly. Practice a two-way-out escape plan and establish an outside meeting point.

5. Electrical & dryer hygiene. Avoid overloading outlets, replace damaged cords, and clean dryer lint (trap every load; vent line regularly).

Special note for Ohio households

Ohio’s per-fire death and injury rates in homes are significantly higher than national averages. That means the basics—heater clearance, proper electrical use, holiday cooking vigilance, working smoke alarms, and practiced escape plans—have an outsized impact here.

Quick safety checklist:

☐ Heater has 3-foot clearance; plugged directly into wall; off when unattended.

☐ Furnace & chimney serviced; fireplace ashes stored outside in metal container.

☐ Stove never left unattended; lid within reach for grease fires.

☐ Smoke alarms installed correctly and tested this month.

☐ Dryer lint trap/vent cleaned; no damaged cords or overloaded outlets.

☐ Pets kept clear of stoves, space heaters, and power cords.

☐ Do not let pets operate cigarette lighters!