By Peter Lore, associate vice president, claims, Nationwide Insurance

As cold weather continues to affect the country, Nationwide Insurance is educating its members and the public about how to stay safe when using alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, to keep their homes warm. Nationwide recently conducted a “live bedroom burn” at its Brand New Belongings Burn House, outside Columbus, to showcase the devastation a space heater can cause in a matter of minutes.

A few key facts about space heater fires:

  • According to the National Fire Protection Assn. (NFPA), home space heater fires are involved in 19,300 home fires annually
  • Space heaters account for one-third of home heating fires and four out of five of home heating fire deaths
  • Space heater fires are costly. Over the past five years (2008 to 2012), Nationwide paid more than $48 million in claims related to space heaters, with the average claim topping more than $40,000.

The following images show what can happen when space heaters are used haphazardly, and include five tips for space heater safety.

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