Economic Worries Lead To More Home Fires?

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Story Published: Oct 5, 2008 at 4:44 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 18, 2008 at 2:59 PM MST

By Hasti Taghi

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IDAHO FALLS - The winter chill is slowly arriving and brings along the threat of home fires. Heating is the second leading cause of fires, just behind cooking. With fears of a very costly heating season, Americans are changing their winter habits.

"People are using different heating sources because gas is supposed to be going up. So they're gonna be looking back at their wood stoves and wood fire places. It does make me nervous," says Sam Villabisencio, Fire Chief.

While the good ol' ways of heating your home can save you a few bucks, they're more likely to put you in danger.

"Nothing's worth destroying your house," says Villabisencio.

The Idaho Falls Fire Department doesn't discourage the use of other heating devices but warns you to be careful. Before turning on those fire places, make sure you clean your chimney of any old residue.

"As time goes on soot builds up in the chimney flute. If the chimney gets too hot can catch on fire, which catches your attic on fire, which catches your house on fire and now every body's in trouble," says Villabisencio.

Also in the survey, many young adults are turning their kitchen oven into a non-traditional heater.

"It's not a good idea. An oven isn't designed to heat your house. It's designed to heat your food, and I think that would put additional stress on your oven and that can potentially be dangerous," says Villabisencio.

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