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.

This is the master bedroom at Nationwide Insurance's Brand New Belongings Burn House before the alternative heating fire demonstration. In a matter of moments, the entire room was engulfed in flames and later deemed a complete loss due to a space heater fire.

Tip No. 1: Follow the 3-foot rule. Ensure that the space heater is at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, such as bedding, furniture and drapes. As seen here, bedding can catch fire quickly when the 3-feet rule is not observed.

Tip No. 2: Keep it on the level. Always place a space heater on a hard, level and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets. Here, the flames have taken over quickly. Notice that the heater is placed on the rug and hardwood floor. Heaters placed on uneven surfaces are more likely to tip and can lead to major home damage.

Tip No. 3: One size doesn't fit all. Ensure your heater is the right size for your home to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. In this photo, smoke consumes the bedroom and will eventually leak into to other parts of the house, causing even more damage. Make sure to check smoke detectors regularly to ensure they are working properly. In the event of a fire, the detector can help to save lives by signaling danger to family members in other rooms.

Tip No. 4: Have a plan. Nationwide worked with the Orange County Township fire department on this demonstration. Here, firefighters safely extinguish the fire. A tip from the fire department: Work with your family to prepare an escape plan in the event of an emergency so that your family is safe until firefighters arrive are on site.

Tip No. 5: Don't overextend yourself. Plug an electric-powered space heater into an outlet with enough capacity and avoid using an extension cord. Here, post-burn the smoke continues to cause damage as it lingers in the room. It's important that consumers contact their insurance agents as quickly as possible to begin the claims process.

Special Reports /

5 Tips for Space Heater Safety: Burn Demo Slideshow

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