A combination of tough economic times and a spat of unusually cold winters are being blamed for a double-digit rise in the percentage of home fire claims, according to one major insurer.

An analysis of Nationwide Insurance's claim data turned up significant increases over the past several winters in home fires, which the company said is caused by alternative heating sources, such items as fireplaces, wood burning stoves, and space heaters.

These devices are often used by those looking to reduce their home heating expenses, despite the potential danger. In fact, according to Nationwide, 68 percent of 1,000 people it surveyed said that they plan to use their alternative heating source as much or more often compared to last winter.

The company's claim data showed that wood-burning fireplaces easily cause the most alternative heating source fires, followed by wood-burning stoves, overloaded extension cords, space heaters, and gas fireplaces.

Fire claims from last winter show significant increases from the winter of 2007-2008 in fires caused by many of these devices. The insurer pointed to its statistics, which show a 16-percent rise in fires caused by wood burning fireplaces, a 15-percent increase in fires caused by overloaded extension cords, and an 18-percent jump in fires caused by fuel-burning space heaters

"While fireplaces and space heaters help keep home heating costs down, the recent jump in fire claims caused by these devices highlight how costly they can be if installed incorrectly or not used properly," said Bill Windsor, Nationwide's Safety Officer. "Each of these claims represents a significant and often life-changing event that in most cases could have been prevented."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are 64,000 home heating fires annually in the United States, resulting in 540 deaths and 1,400 injuries.

Among other fire risks revealed by Nationwide's survey were the following:

29 percent do not turn off their space heater when going to bed.
13 percent use their oven to heat their kitchen.
11 percent use an extension cord with their electric space heater.
41 percent of Americans do not have their chimneys inspected each year and 25 percent do it less than every four years.
38 percent do not own carbon monoxide detectors.

Special Reports /

Fire Claims Soaring from Fireplaces, Space Heaters

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