Being a firefighter is one of the most dangerous jobs, especially, during the winter months. Combating fires in freezing weather is not only hard on personnel but also on equipment. Can you imagine having to climb a 20 foot ladder in icy / snowy weather? Not to mention dealing with frozen water supplies! Paul Davis is truly grateful for our local firefighters who put their lives at risk for our safety every day. Below are a few safety tips from some local fire departments to keep your home and family safe this season. Hopefully by following these tips we can also keep our firefighters safe as well.
Tips from Chief Auffart and the Newport Fire Department:
- Have a three foot “kid’s free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected and cleaned each year by a qualified professional.
- All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as furnaces, fireplace, wood stove, or space heaters.
- Never use the oven to heat your home.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected and cleaned each year by a qualified professional.
- Test all smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries twice a year.
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm outside sleeping areas on every level of the home.
An important and very personal tip from Chief Todd Whitaker at the Erlanger Fire Department:
- “As a teenager our family suffered through a roof fire on Christmas Eve due to improper maintenance of the kitchen fireplace. To ensure the safety of loved ones I strongly encourage everyone have their fireplaces inspected by a qualified technician prior to settling in for a long winter’s night.”
Some tips from Chief Marc A. Muench at the Florence Fire/EMS Department:
- Live trees are beautiful but can be dangerous. Cut two inches off the trunk before putting into the stand and make sure the tree is always well watered. When the needles start to fall, it’s time to get the tree out of your house.
- Don’t overload outlets. Avoid using extension cords but if you need to, make sure you use one capable of the electric load you plan to use it for and never run them under furniture or carpet.
- Candles are the second leading cause of house fires. Keep candles away from anything that might catch fire and never leave a candle burning unattended.
- Test your smoke detectors. It is your best defense against injury or death if you have a fire in your home.
Thank you to all the departments that took time out of their busy day to give us a few safety tips!