Here are some safety tips from Metro Councilman Ken Fleming's January 2006 newsletter.
John Vezeau, Graymoor-Devondale Council Member
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With home-heating costs rising, so are the numbers of residents using space heaters and fireplaces to warm their homes. Local fire departments offer the following tips for winter fire safety at home:
?· Furnaces should be inspected yearly by a certified technician and filters should be changed monthly. All fueled heaters must be vented in accordance with local building and fire codes to prevent build-up of dangerous carbon monoxide.
?· When using a fireplace, always protect your home from sparks by using a screen made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass. Burn only wood in your fireplace, be sure that dampers are in proper working order, and never leave fires unattended, especially in an area used by children or pets. Remove ashes in a metal container and store them outside. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year by a certified technician, or whenever you suspect a problem.
?· Portable space heaters should be placed at least three feet away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything that burns, and always turn them off when you leave home or go to bed.
?· If your space heater runs on liquid fuel, such as kerosene, let the heater cool down before refueling it. Adding fuel to a hot heater can cause the fuel to ignite. Refuel your heaters outside, where spills won?’t present a fire hazard. Use only the fuel recommended by your heater?’s manufacture. Never put gasoline in any space heater.
?· Keep electrical cords out of traffic paths and away from areas where children play. Keep cords well maintained, and replace any cord that is cracked, frayed or otherwise damaged. Never pinch an electrical cord against walls or furniture. Do not run extension cords under carpets or across doorways. Have a professional electrician replace old or damaged outlets with modern receptacles that have proper grounding.
By Councilman Ken Fleming
John Vezeau, Graymoor-Devondale Council Member
_______________________
With home-heating costs rising, so are the numbers of residents using space heaters and fireplaces to warm their homes. Local fire departments offer the following tips for winter fire safety at home:
?· Furnaces should be inspected yearly by a certified technician and filters should be changed monthly. All fueled heaters must be vented in accordance with local building and fire codes to prevent build-up of dangerous carbon monoxide.
?· When using a fireplace, always protect your home from sparks by using a screen made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass. Burn only wood in your fireplace, be sure that dampers are in proper working order, and never leave fires unattended, especially in an area used by children or pets. Remove ashes in a metal container and store them outside. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year by a certified technician, or whenever you suspect a problem.
?· Portable space heaters should be placed at least three feet away from furniture, walls, curtains, or anything that burns, and always turn them off when you leave home or go to bed.
?· If your space heater runs on liquid fuel, such as kerosene, let the heater cool down before refueling it. Adding fuel to a hot heater can cause the fuel to ignite. Refuel your heaters outside, where spills won?’t present a fire hazard. Use only the fuel recommended by your heater?’s manufacture. Never put gasoline in any space heater.
?· Keep electrical cords out of traffic paths and away from areas where children play. Keep cords well maintained, and replace any cord that is cracked, frayed or otherwise damaged. Never pinch an electrical cord against walls or furniture. Do not run extension cords under carpets or across doorways. Have a professional electrician replace old or damaged outlets with modern receptacles that have proper grounding.
By Councilman Ken Fleming
