INDIANA — As cold weather settles in and Hoosiers increasingly rely on alternative heat sources like space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves to cut energy costs, fire officials are issuing a strong caution: these devices significantly increase the risk of a home fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), alternative heating sources pose a severe threat. Between 2019 and 2023, space heaters and heating stoves were responsible for 332 deaths in home heating equipment fires across the United States. Nearly half of these heating-related fires occurred during the peak winter months of December, January, and February.

The Critical Warning: Never Use Ovens for Heat

Experts emphasize that alternative heating should always be the last option. Crucially, residents are

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