Stay warm and safe in GA with these tips for fireplaces and space heaters

Curling up by a roaring fire or turning on a warm space heater sounds like a wonderful idea on a frigidly cold day. However, those things can also pose a serious threat to our homes and families if we aren’t careful.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, “Heating fires remained the second leading cause of home fires” and heating equipment is the third leading cause of fire deaths in American homes.

So, how can you stay safe while also staying warm?

Here are some tips from the experts on how to properly use fireplaces, space heaters and other heating equipment to stay warm in winter weather.

Safety tips for using heating equipment in your GA home

Portable heaters

Here are some safety tips to follow when using portable heaters in your home:

Three feet rule: “Place all space heaters at least three feet (one meter) away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything else that burns,” said The Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety in Georgia. It’s also crucial to turn off any space heaters when you leave home.

Inspect your heater: Inspect your portable heater for cracks or holes in cords. Any frayed material or cracked spots can overheat the heater and cause fires. This goes for electric heaters in your home, too.

Wall outlets and surge protector safety: “Manufacturers advise against plugging space heaters into surge protectors, extension cords, plug timers, GFCI outlets (the kind with the test and reset buttons), or really anything that’s not a wall outlet,” said Wirecutter writer Thom Dunn.

Dunn said plugging your heaters into extension cords or surge protectors can cause additional heat buildup and fire risk. However, Dunn also advises users to make sure their heater isn’t too close to the wall outlet, because this can unnecessarily heat the wall and pose a threat.

Fireplace safety

Here are some fireplace safety tips from Chimney Solutions:

• Have your chimney, wood stove or fireplace inspected and cleaned at least once a year to prevent buildups that could lead to fires.
• Burn only seasoned firewood: “The best type of wood to burn in a fireplace or wood stove is seasoned firewood which has been dried for at least 6 months. This type of firewood burns brighter, cleaner and quicker, thereby reducing creosote deposits,” Chimney Solutions experts said.
• Extinguish the fire before leaving your home or going to bed. Yes, you read that right: before going to bed. Experts say that the residual heat from the extinguished fire will still warm your home.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors and test smoke detectors twice a year.
• Dispose of ashes safely by collecting ash in a metal bucket. Watch out for embers and wet the pile if you need to. Don’t dispose of them near trees, plants, wood or leaves. Disposing of ashes can keep your fireplace clean and your home safe.

Other tips Here are more tips from fire prevention experts:

• Never use an oven to heat your home.
• Teach your children the basics of space heater safety. Very young children should be taught never to touch the space heater for any reason.
• Close the screen on your fireplace while the fire is burning.
• And here’s what to do if you don’t have heat, but need to stay warm:
• Eat warm foods like soup and casserole.
• Drink warm beverages like tea or coffee.
• Wear layers.
• Turn on incandescent lights.
• Huddle with other members of your household.
• Use towels and rugs to block air leaks from doors and windows.
• Use a heating pad or an electric blanket, following all manufacturer’s instructions.

What other questions do you have? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.

This story was originally published January 31, 2026 at 6:00 AM.

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.