Wood is a renewable source of energy that can supplement conventional fossil fuels for home heating.
Heating with wood reduces costs, but can be dangerous. The greatest number of fires occur in rural areas, with solid fuel heating equipment, such as fireplaces, blamed as the primary cause of death. Smoke detectors have improved fire safety since they were introduced, but the growth of their use has slowed. Nearly one in five American homes are unprotected. The main reasons found are dead or missing batteries and incorrect installation or location.