October 29, 2008 - Cold Weather and Home Heating Safety Tips

Winter months are fast approaching

The recent burst of cold weather is a reminder that the winter months are fast approaching and that the public will be turning off their air conditioners and turning on their furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters. According to the Shreveport Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau’s 2007 records, nearly 30 home fires were blamed on heating equipment during the months of November and December.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that heating devices are the leading cause of fires in the home during the winter months. “When people are trying to keep warm, sometimes they will resort to using dangerous methods. By issuing these safety tips early we can position ourselves to make sure that the number of fire deaths and injuries are minimized and that the winter season is safer for the citizens of Shreveport,” said Fire Chief Brian Crawford. These fires are preventable if the following key safety measures are followed:

• Do not attempt to heat your home with the oven. Burning gas in a closed house or apartment uses up oxygen and produces deadly carbon monoxide gases. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that is created when fuel burns incompletely.

• Purchase and install Carbon Monoxide detectors in the hallway near every separate sleeping area in the home if you use gas or a fireplace for your heating.

• Keep heating devices on the floor and at least 3 feet away from combustible materials such as beds, drapes, furniture and anything else that will burn. Remember: Space Heaters Need Space!

• Never leave space heaters on while you’re sleeping-designate an adult to turn off or unplug at night. Do not leave children alone in a room with a space heater and do not let them adjust the controls or move the space heater!

• Have your heating system, chimneys and fireplaces professionally inspected and serviced every year. Most fires in wood stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys occur because a buildup of creosote (the residue of unburned fuel).

• Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and make sure all family members know where it is and how to use it. Remember: Fire Extinguishers are for small fires!

• Examine gas lines for punctures or splits; check the connectors and valves for leaks prior to using. Remember: If smell an odor similar to rotten cabbage, turn control knob off and call 911.