With another round of below-freezing temperatures arriving in Oklahoma this weekend, the American Red Cross is urging people to heat their homes safely and prepare their families in case they experience a fire.
As winter weather sweeps across the state, residents are reminded that staying warm must be balanced with fire safety. While it’s important to keep your home comfortable during these colder months, it’s equally crucial to follow proper heating guidelines. The American Red Cross has outlined some essential precautions to ensure your family’s safety during this time.
In the first two weeks of 2025, the Red Cross responded to more than 80 home fires in Oklahoma. That’s a 125% increase compared to the first two weeks of November 2024 and a 50% jump from the same period in December.
“Home fires are so dangerous that they claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined. We want Oklahomans to do everything they can to stay warm safely during cold weather. That means using heat sources as intended and having a plan in case a fire does happen,” said Matt Trotter, Regional Communications Director for the Red Cross of Kansas and Oklahoma.
Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires — a risk that increases with the coming cold. Help keep your family safe by providing at least three feet of space for all heating equipment. This is critical because most home heating fire tragedies occur when flammable items like furniture, rugs and drapes are too close.
In addition, never leave space heaters unattended — as they’re involved in most fatal home heating fires. If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. And turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
Other heat sources should be used with care, too.
Failure to clean heating equipment is also a leading factor of home heating fires. Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces and chimneys inspected annually by a professional — and cleaned if necessary.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
PREPARE FOR HOME FIRES
You can also help your family stay safe by testing your smoke alarms and practicing your two-minute home fire escape drill. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download our free Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).
Energy-Saving Tips from Oklahoma Natural Gas
As temperatures drop, it’s important to not only stay warm but also to ensure your energy use is efficient. Here are some practical energy-saving tips to help keep your home comfortable while reducing heating costs:
- Set the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while awake and lower it while you’re asleep or away from home.
- Set your water heater’s temperature to 120°F.
- Change or clean air filters, which can lower energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Dirty filters cost more to use and overwork the equipment.
- Apply weatherstripping and caulk to seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows.
- Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets.
- Change the rotation of ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to push warm air downward.
Additional Tips for Staying Safe in the Cold
While it’s important to save energy and prevent heating-related fires, also consider taking these extra precautions to ensure your family stays warm and secure in the face of extreme winter temperatures. With the combination of these fire safety and energy-saving measures, you can minimize risks and stay safe this season.
