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Nearly half of all home heating fires take place between December and February, according to the National Fire Protection Association . Surprisingly, fireplaces are not causing the heaviest losses. Between 2018 and 2022, space heaters and heating stoves caused 46 percent of the fires but 76 percent of deaths related to home heating.

Since space heaters can be an integral part of an efficient home heating plan, space heater safety is a vital priority this winter to mitigate these fire risks. So how do you avoid a house fire? Know the most common and costly mistakes people make with portable heaters, and don’t repeat them in your own home.

1. DON’T crowd your space heater.

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Give your space heater a wide berth, particularly around textiles. Space heaters and fabrics of any type are a deadly combo.…