November Fact Sheet

620 South “E” Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0179
909-386-8427 phone
909-386-8460 fax
poverstreet@fire.sbcounty.gov

• Nearly 300 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States every year.
• This toxic gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless.
• Any fuel-burning appliance in your home is a potential source for Carbon Monoxide.

• Chimney fires are often a result of over-building a fire. The intense heat can either incur structural damage or cause the chimney to ignite.
• A yearly inspection by a chimney sweep will insure proper maintenance of the system.
• A yearly inspection by a chimney sweep will insure proper maintenance of the system.
• All woodbuming appliances must be vented if used indoors.
• The state fire marshal’s seal is required on all woodburning appliances sold in this state.
• "Good common sense” is the size of fire is always appropriate.

• Approximately 2,300 fires and 100 deaths each year in the United States are caused by kerosene heaters.
• California statutes of the Health and Safety code prohibits the sale of unvented heaters designed for the use inside the house.
• Kerosene heaters should never be used inside the home, it is a violation of the fire code.
• Free standing heaters should have a "tip-over" shut-off switch.
• Most fires involving space heaters are a direct result of combustible materials being placed too close to, or on the space heater.
• A safe distance when placing space heaters is three feet from any combustible material.

Source: San Diego Burn Institute Newsletter 1989, UFC.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,
The Senseless Killer, 1994.