The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is urging the public to use added caution when heating their homes this winter.

Home heating equipment is the leading cause of U.S. home fires during the months of December thru February, when nearly half (48 percent) of all U.S. home heating equipment fires occur. January is the leading month for home heating fires.

According to NFPA’s latest heating equipment statistics, an average of 48,530 fires home heating fires occurred each year between 2014 and 2018, resulting in an estimated 500 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.

Space heaters were most often responsible for home heating equipment fires. Fireplaces or chimneys are the second leading cause, while other leading types of home heating equipment fires included central heat systems and water heaters.

Failure to clean equipment was the leading cause of home heating equipment fires, with creosote build-up in chimneys representing a particular issue. Fires in which a heat source was too close to combustible materials caused the largest shares of civilian deaths, injuries, and direct property damage.

NFPA offers a wealth of home heating safety tips, information, and resources to help better educate the public about ways to safely heat their homes.