Perhaps take a moment to read the following:

Kerosene heater safety guidelines
Follow these recommendations when buying and using a portable kerosene
heater.
Use only listed heaters

Only heaters that have been tested and listed in accordance with
Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) Standard 647 should be purchased and
used. This listing should be shown on the name plate of the heater.

Use the correct fuel

The National Kerosene Heater Association, the American Petroleum
Institute, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and others recommend
only 1-K kerosene be used in these heaters. According to American
Society of Testing and Materials Standard D-3699, "Standard
specifications for kerosene," there are two types of kerosene fuels,
1-K and 2-K. The primary difference is sulfur content. Type 1-K
contains 0.04 percent sulfur by weight and 2-K contains 0.30 percent
sulfur by weight. The higher sulfur content of 2-K fuel tends to
adversely affect proper fuel wicking and increases sulfur dioxide
emissions. The use of 2-K kerosene creates the need for frequent wick
cleaning and maintenance that, if not carried out properly, may produce
a fire or explosion hazard.

The distinction between 1-K and 2-K kerosene fuels cannot be made
through visual examination. The terms "water clear" or "clear white"
are often used to describe the type of kerosene that can be used in the
unvented heater. Although water clear or clear white kerosene may be
1-K in most cases, color should not be used as a sole indicator. The
type of crude from which the kerosene is refined, temperature, aging
and contamination can all cause kerosene to yellow and become darker.
So if the retail dealer does not specifically market the kerosene as
the 1-K type of fuel, you should assume the product is not 1-K
kerosene. Find a dealer who can certify you are buying 1-K grade
kerosene.

In addition, never use diesel, jet "A" fuel, No. 1 fuel oil, No. 2 fuel
oil or gasoline in your heater. The use of any of these fuels could
result in a fire or explosion that could cause death or injury.

Proper clearances from combustible material

The heater should be kept a minimum distance of 36 inches from all
combustible materials such as curtains or furniture unless otherwise
specified by the manufacturer. If fewer than 36 inches are acceptable,
the manufacturer will specify on the name plate. Do not use flammable
solvents, aerosol sprays or lacquers near the heater. Do not operate
the heater in the same room where other flammable liquids such as
gasoline are stored. Don't operate in dusty environments. The surface
temperature of some units can exceed 500 degrees F, which can ignite
flammable liquids, combustible liquids, flammable vapors or grain dusts
and result in a fire or explosion.

Provide required maintenance and upkeep

Consult your operator's manual for instructions or recommended
maintenance and upkeep to ensure the heater's proper operation.
Required maintenance should include periodically cleaning the unit,
trimming the wick, cleaning off soot and carbon, inspecting for fuel
leaks and other maintenance procedures recommended by the manufacturer.
If you suspect the heater is not working properly, extinguish it
immediately and allow it to cool. Then perform the necessary
maintenance or take it to a qualified service center for repair.

Don't take a chance

An improperly operating heater can result in a fire or can generate an
excessive amount of the byproducts of combustion: soot, carbon monoxide
and sulfur dioxide.

Provide adequate ventilation

Adequate ventilation is necessary for safe operation of the kerosene
heater. Burning kerosene consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases.
Ventilation must be provided to replace oxygen as well as to remove
gases in order to prevent asphyxiation or respiratory problems. The
manufacturer's recommendations should be followed to provide adequate
oxygen for combustion; in many instances, this may require opening a
window or a door leading to another room. If no specifications are
listed in the manufacturer's literature, one rule of thumb is to
provide 1 square inch of window opening for each 1,000 Btus of the
heater rating. An example -- a 10,000 Btu heater may require opening an
outside window 10 square inches to provide the necessary air intake. In
an energy efficient home, additional air intake may be necessary.

Use only as supplemental heat

The heater should never be used as the only heat source, except in an
emergency situation. Don't operate it while you are asleep because
heater malfunction could cause asphyxiation. Do not leave a heater
unattended.

Keep the heater out of the traffic flow

Place it in areas where there is little chance someone will bump into
it. UL Standard 647 requires that in the tipped over position, the
burner "flame shall not continue to burn longer than 30 seconds." The
standard also requires "that kerosene discharged from the reservoir or
the burner shall not be ignited" as a result of the heater tip-over.
Although equipment must meet a strenuous test before it is "listed" by
nationally recognized testing organizations such as UL, the equipment
could fail or malfunction. So take care to prevent the potential for
heater tip-overs.

Allow heater to cool before refueling

The heater should be allowed to cool for a minimum of 15 minutes before
refueling. The surface temperature of many of the heaters can be as
high as 500 degrees F. Kerosene has a flash point (lowest temperature
at which a liquid gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable mixture)
of approximately 110 degrees F and an ignition temperature of 410
degrees F. If kerosene is spilled on a hot heater, it could ignite and
cause a fire.

Refuel heater and store kerosene outdoors

Always refuel the cool heater outside in a well-ventilated area away
from other ignition sources. Refueling should also be done in an area
where small spills can be cleaned up quickly. Fuel should be stored
outdoors in an approved blue safety can. "Kerosene" should be lettered
on the safety can in a readily visible location. Never store kerosene
in a red container that could easily be mistaken as a gasoline storage
container.

Never overfill heater

When refueling the heater, leave sufficient space for fuel expansion.
Follow manufacturer's refueling directions found in the owner's manual
or on the name plate.

Do not let children operate or refuel the heater

Only an adult familiar with the operating and refueling procedures of
the heater should be allowed to operate or refuel it.

Prevent burns

Warn children of the dangers of the hot surface temperature on the
portable kerosene heater. Remember, the surface temperature of some
heaters may be as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Develop a pre-fire plan

Every family should take time to develop and practice a pre-fire plan.
In your plan:

Install and maintain a smoke detector system. Install one smoke
detector per living level in accordance with National Fire Protection
Association Standard No. 74, Standard for household fire warning
equipment.
Install and maintain a fire extinguisher. Install an approved
multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher in a visible and easily
accessible location.
Develop an evacuation plan. An evacuation plan should be developed and
practiced by all occupants to ensure safe escape from the building in
the event of a fire. Remember the plan is only good if everyone knows
about it and has practiced it to make sure it works.

dennis
in nca