Winter house fires: What's causing them, what Long Island homeowners can do
Homeowners should have at least one smoke detector on every floor, in every bedroom and in the vicinity, advises Nassau Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro. Credit: Marcus Santos
In the early hours Friday, firefighters flocked to a two-family home ablaze in Manorhaven. The second-story fire that displaced two families was the 17th active fire call in Nassau County in a one-week span, said Nassau Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro.
The volume of fires in the county from Feb. 6 through the eve of Valentine's Day was "definitely abnormal," he said.
The uptick coincides with what Uttaro called "the heating season" — the period from November through midspring.
"The heating season becomes notorious for fires, because people are using their heat, the heating systems in the house, whether they're gas, oil or electric," Uttaro said.
What's causing the fires?
"The fires have been caused by everything from unattended cooking, to candles, to smoking," Uttaro said. "We had at least one or two electrical fires."
Officials in Suffolk County previously told Newsday that there were eight fires in the county from Feb. 6 through Feb. 12.
In Nassau, the fires were unrelated to each other and had miscellaneous causes with no noticeable patterns, according to Uttaro.
"There's cooking fires from the holidays, there's people using space heaters, there's people using extension cords to power these space heaters," he said.
What professionals, homeowners can do
Before temperatures drop, Uttaro recommends homeowners have their heating system checked. A reputable contractor will make sure the system is operating correctly and that there are no chimney obstructions, he said.
"They have a methodology and a checklist that they would go through," Uttaro said.
If there is any sign of an electrical problem — circuit breakers constantly tripping, lights dimming — Uttaro emphasizes the importance of having an electrician or electrical inspection firm check for underlying issues that could cause a fire.
A fireplace should also be inspected, and the flue must be open while the fireplace is in use.
Professional inspections aside, homeowners or renters can also do their own checks and take their own precautions. This can come in the form of plugging heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners, heating equipment, refrigerators and washing machines directly into outlets, Uttaro said.
"Never use extension cords in place of permanent wiring, even the heavy duty extension cords," he said.
Space heaters
Fire prevention comes in as simple a form as ensuring bedding and furniture are not within 3 to 5 of a space heater, and never leaving candles unattended. Uttaro warns that candles should always be put out before the user goes to sleep.
For residents who rely on space heaters and have pets or young children, Uttaro recommends units that automatically shut off when jostled or knocked over.
The top priority, though, is perhaps the most straightforward: make sure there are operating, tested smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the home, he said.
There should be at least one on every floor, in every bedroom and in the vicinity, Uttaro said. Each detector has a "test" button.
"Twice a year, you should press that test button and actually make sure they sound and work," he said.
Arielle Dollinger joined Newsday as a staff reporter in 2022. Previously, she covered local and national news as a freelancer for The New York Times, Newsday and other outlets.
