As another fall season begins, homeowners are advised to be cautious against heating-caused fires.

Heating fires is being considered as the second leading cause of all residential fires across the United States. It amounts to 14 percent of these fires. Heating fires pertains to those fire incidents wherein the use of heat is involved such as water heaters, heating stoves, fireplaces, portable or fixed heating units.

Statistics showed that between 2008 and 2010, around 50,100 heating fires in residential places have transpired each year with damages that are relatively devastating to lives and properties. In that period alone, annual property damage due to heating fires are estimated to be around $326 million, with an annual average of 150 deaths and 575 injuries.

The report, “Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)”, which the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) released, have detailed the types of heating fires and what time of the day and year it usually occurs.

According to the report, heating fires in residential buildings peak during the early evening between 5p.m. to 9p.m., with this four-hour period accounting to 30 percent of all residential heating fires. Confined fires from those residential heating devices such as fuel burners, flues, and chimneys account to 87 percent of these fires.

With the severity of heating-caused fires, the USFA advises the public to exercise a number of precautionary measures which include maintaining the reliability of heating equipment by having them inspected and cleaned annually by professionals, and by installing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in each home to provide early warnings. The USFA also advices the public to use heating equipment that bear labels from recognized testing laboratories.

As to further strengthen your home’s protection against losses from fire, InsureDirect advices you to check your homeowners policy and ensure that your coverage is up to protect you from these unpredictable incidents.