As the bone-chilling cold of winter grips the nation, many Americans take to alternative-heating sources to keep their homes warm and save on expensive heating bills—but families using these heating sources should proceed with caution.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home space heaters are involved in 19,300 fires annually. Half of all home-heating fires occur during the cold winter months of December, January and February, and space heaters account for one-third (32 percent) of home heating fires and four out of five (80 percent) home-heating fire deaths annually.

These types of fires are not only common, but can be extremely costly. Over the past five years (2008-2012), Nationwide Insurance says it paid more than $48 million in claims related to space heaters, with the average claim topping more than $40,000.

"At Nationwide, we're committed to keeping our members safe and protecting what matters most to them," says Pete Lore, Nationwide's associate vice president of Claims. "That's why we participate in mock burns so that we can offer safety tips to our members based on what we see. Additionally, we look at coverage options families would need to make their house a home after devastation like fire."

On Feb. 15, Nationwide Insurance demonstrated a "live bedroom burn" at the Nationwide Brand New Belongings Burn House outside of Columbus, Ohio to show the dangers and devastation of space-heater home fires.

The demonstration showed the speed at which fires can start and spread. According to research by NFPA, one-third of American households estimate they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. In reality, families have as little as three minutes to escape safely after the alarm sounds.  

Nationwide offered some helpful tips to prevent house fires this winter from space heaters:

  • Keep it level: always place the space heater on a hard, level, and nonflammable surface (not on rugs or carpets).
  • The three foot rule: ensure the space heater is at least three feet from anything that can burn (such as bedding, furniture and drapes).
  • Kid-free zone: keep children and pets away from space heaters.
  • Don't leave it running: never leave a space heater on when you leave a room or go to sleep.
  • Get smoke alarms: install working smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly.
  • Use a space heater tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a recognized testing lab.
  • One size doesn't fit all: ensure your heater is the right size for your home to avoid carbon monoxide.
  • Don't extend yourself: plug an electric-powered space heater into an outlet with enough capacity and avoid using an extension cord. 
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