As the blustery storm brings in the cold weather, many of us will be looking for extra heat. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says the County Fire Department is offering seasonal safety tips…
Fall often brings the need extra heat from a fireplace or space heater. Accidents involving fireplaces and heating equipment are a major cause of preventable home fires. County Fire offers tips to keep you safe while you keep warm. Position space heaters at least three feet from anything that burns. Turn them off when you leave home or go to bed. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually. Have a spark arrester on your chimney top to prevent burning embers from blowing out. Don’t use your fireplace during high winds. Clear tree branches at least 10 feet from the chimney opening. Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container. Cardboard boxes, paper bags and plastic containers quickly catch fire. Even apparently cool ashes may contain enough heat to ignite these containers.
SAFETY TIPS ABOUT HEATING AS THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER
