PRESS RELEASE

To: NEWSROOM

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Assistant To The Fire Chief

Dec. 20 - Fire Destroys Mobile Home Prompts Warning

An early morning fire that destroyed a mobile home and left a family of six homeless has been unofficially attributed to a space heater . . .

Fire investigators are saying that the fire at 3212 Montana Street started around 7:30 a.m. this morning and probably started in one of the home’s bedrooms due to a space heater. Investigators arrived at their conclusion after interviewing a family member who stated that he saw fire coming from the space heater in his room. That member went on the alert the others in the home and all were able to escape unharmed.

The fire department is saying that the family was extremely fortunate to have gotten out with injury as the home had no smoke detectors. “I would hate to imagine what we would be dealing with if the fire had started at three o’clock in the morning, with everyone soundly sleeping in a mobile home, and with no smoke detectors - it could have been devastatingly tragic,” said spokesperson Brian Crawford. The family, who lost everything and carried no insurance on the property, is received assistance from the Salvation Army and will be staying with relatives.

The fire department sees these types of fires happen every fall and winter season - sometimes with devastating and deadly consequences. The weather turns cold and people turn on the space heaters to keep warm. Fires inadvertently start by placing a heater too close to their bed, drapes, furniture and other combustible materials. Then there are the people who end up having fires because the heater is left on all night or the appliance tips over.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says heating devices are the leading cause of fires in the home during December, January, and February. All kinds of space heating equipment are involved in fires in the home: portable electric heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, portable kerosene heaters, and room gas heaters. But these fires don’t have to happen. Most fires with space heaters are preventable if the following key safety measures are followed.

1. Provide all home heating devices with at least three feet of clear space that is away from beds, drapes, furniture, and other combustible materials.

2. Heating devices should be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.

Examine gas lines for punctures or splits. Check the connectors and valves for leaks.

3. Never leave space heaters on while you’re sleeping.

4. Leave space for air to circulate around heaters and other heat-producing equipment, such as copy machines, coffeemakers, and computers. Keep appliances away from anything that might catch fire. Do not stack books or papers on top of computer monitors.

5. Designate someone to turn off or unplug all appliances at the end of each work day at work.

6. Have chimneys and fireplaces cleaned regularly.

7. Keep sparks and embers inside the fireplace with fire screens made of heat-tempered glass or sturdy metal.

8. Burn dry, well-seasoned hard wood because it’s the most efficient fuel.

9. Most fires in wood stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys occur because of a lack of regular cleaning, leading to the buildup of creosote (the residue of unburned fuel).

10. Heating equipment that burns fuel is a potential source of carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that is created when fuel burns incompletely. Install CO alarms in your home to provide you with an early warning if CO is accumulating.

11. Because fire can grow and spread quickly, having working smoke alarm in your home can mean the difference between life and death. If you do not have a smoke alarm, install one. But, these life-saving devices are only effective when they’re working properly. Test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working.

When temperatures drop, go ahead and use your heating appliances. We want you to be warm. But, we also want to make sure you’re safe. The Shreveport Fire Department wants everyone to have a safe and happy fall and Holiday season.