VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Over the last few weeks, 13News Now has covered fires in kitchens, chimneys and even ones sparked by space heaters.
Investigators with the Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD) said an average fire can double in size in about one minute.
“The colder weather obviously brings in heating devices or appliances,” VBFD Captain Jim Ingledue said. “Everything from fireplaces to electrical heaters.”
Heating equipment ignited more than 44,000 house fires each year from 2016 to 2020, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.
“You got to be really really careful and be aware of what is going on,” Ingledue said.
Before people gather around the fireplace this holiday season, Ingledue said his biggest advice is to make sure it’s in top shape.
“You really need to have it inspected, cleaned and serviced by a licensed chimney sweep,” Ingledue said. “That inspection is really big. Because there could be damage to the flue and the chimney that is really impossible to see by the homeowner.”
He said the ashes can stay hot for 24 to 48 hours.
“What people need to do is put those fireplace ashes in a metal container and take them outside and wet them down and let them sit for 24 hours before they dispose of them,” Ingledue said.
When it comes to plugging in a space heater, Ingledue said to keep it three feet from anything combustible.
“Make sure it is plugged directly into the wall,” Ingledue said.
People deck the halls with decorations and sometimes real Christmas trees during the holidays. But Ingledue said don’t overload electrical cords and keep trees watered.
“You don’t want them around too long after the season because they will eventually stop absorbing water and they become very dry,” Ingledue said.
Another piece of advice, Ingledue said people should frequently test the batteries on their smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly.
The Virginia Beach Fire Marshal’s Office reports a steady flow of fire calls so far this season, but nothing out of the ordinary.