A frigid cold spell with no end in the foreseeable future has Connecticut fire officials warning residents about the elevated risks cold weather can contribute to fire and carbon monoxide dangers.
Cold stretches like the one the state is experiencing now tend to bring out more space heaters and increase the use of things like wood stoves and fireplaces, according to State Fire Marshal Lauri Volkert. While all of these can be safely used, they can also increase the risks of a fire breaking out if proper precautions are not taken.
Volkert said firefighters typically start to see an uptick in fires when winter first hits and the holiday season brings with it lighted decorations and more cooking.
“This time of year it tends to be more heating related,” Volkert said.
“A lot of times combustibles are too close to wood stoves and fireplaces,” she said, adding that chimneys require regular cleanings to be safely used. “Homes tighten up, people are in their homes quite a bit and heating systems are put under a strain.”
Across the state, two fires broke out late Tuesday at a home in Tolland and at a commercial property in Thomaston where several businesses were housed. The fire at a single-family home sent one person to the hospital after he was found in “serious medical distress,” according to Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley.
According to the Thomaston Fire Department, a building over 100 years old was expected to be a total loss after as many as six businesses were damaged when a blaze broke out at a property at the corner of Main and Park Streets.
In Waterbury, a fire broke out in the early morning hours Wednesday at an apartment building on Waterville Street. The residents of all eight units were evacuated and displaced, the Waterbury Fire Department said.
The causes of all three fires remain under investigation.
Multiple businesses damaged in two-alarm fire in Thomaston. A popular restaurant is among them
According to Volkert, state officials organized an informational campaign late last year after fire departments across the state saw a number of fires break out involving fireplace ashes that were disposed of unsafely.
“You want to make sure that the ashes are cool to the touch before you remove them and put them in a metal container far away from combustibles,” Volkert said.
Space heaters can also pose a risk if not safely used.
“Never use extension cords, surge protectors or multi-plug adapters,” Volkert said. “It draws too much power. You need to make sure they’re plugged directly into the wall.”
Most space heaters require three feet of space around them and should be turned off and unplugged when not in use and before going to bed.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 46% of all heating equipment fires occurred between December and February based on data collected between 2020 and 2024.
Space heaters and heating stoves were responsible for the largest shares of losses in home heating equipment fires, the statistics show. This type of heating equipment accounted for about 47% of the fires, but more than seven out of 10 deaths and seven out of 10 of the injuries in home fires that were related to heating, the NFPA said
Fires originating in a kitchen or cooking area accounted for the largest share (19%) of home heating fires, according to the nonprofit.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fires involving heating equipment are responsible for one in every seven home fires and one in every five fatalities suffered in house fires.
With the big snowstorm that just dumped more than a foot of snow across most of the state, Volkert also said residents should be diligent about clearing snow away from any vents to their home.
“We’re seeing a lot of carbon monoxide calls where vents are covered up and the carbon monoxide is not able to exit the home,” she said.
It’s also important to clear six feet around any fire hydrants and to ensure snow and ice are cleared away from each exit of a home.
“This is really important for the folks evacuating the home in a fire but also for firefighters to be able to access the home whether it’s for a fire or any other type of emergency, even if it’s a medical emergency where the paramedics need to get a stretcher into the home,” Volkert said. “You really need to have that clear path.”
