Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - The fire brigade warns the Hessians against using alternative, risky heating methods in the energy crisis winter. "You should really keep your hands off various things," said Norbert Fischer, President of the State Fire Brigade Association of Hesse. As an example, he named tealight ovens, for which building instructions are currently circulating on social media. These constructions are "fire hazard" in the truest sense of the word. But even those who rely on electric fan heaters or an old fireplace should pay attention to a few things.
The fire brigade fears that, despite all the warnings, dangerous heating methods will be used, increasing the number of fires and emergencies such as carbon monoxide poisoning. "We are preparing intensively for this and are warning the population intensively," said Fischer.
Tealight ovens, for example, could lead to a wax burn. With this type of fire, there is a risk that flames can suddenly form up to a meter high. Wax fires should not be extinguished with water, but with a fire blanket, as in the case of a grease fire. There have already been fires caused by tea light ovens in Germany, said Fischer. It is absolutely taboo to take gas or charcoal grills and gas mushrooms off the terrace and operate them inside - there is a risk of life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning.
Spontaneously putting a stove back into operation that has not been used for a long time is also not a good idea, said the expert. In such a case, the chimney is usually clogged and there is a risk of chimney and house fires. It is therefore important to have the system checked first.
And what about the electric fan heaters that were purchased out of fear of a cold apartment for the winter? "Fan heaters can reach temperatures of up to 400 degrees. This means that anything flammable nearby can ignite really quickly. That's why you have to be very careful when using such a fan heater," said the association's president. The devices should also have a CE mark.
