Alternative Heating Sources Present Major Fire Hazards For Homes

A Sunday fire that totaled a Bloomington Springs home serves as a reminder that alternative heating sources are never a good solution to heat your home.

Putnam Fire Chief Tom Brown said he’s seen people heat their homes using stoves, ovens with the door open, and even grills indoors as other heating methods.

“You know turning the stove on or turning the oven on and opening the door is really pretty common,” Brown said. “It’s just not safe, especially if there are kids in the home. You know you got hot surfaces you got to worry about besides the fire hazard.”

Brown said that people will typically get away with these methods until something goes horribly wrong. He said that when it comes to cheaper heat methods, the only safe bet is to use a space heater plugged directly into the wall with no nearby combustibles.