Fall & Winter Fire Safety Tips

The fall and winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increase in fires due to heating equipment. Below are summarized some fire safety tips to make your home safer during the winter holiday months.

Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January, and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.

Have your heating unit serviced by a professional.
Buy fuels only from a reputable company.
Use only fuel type recommended by manufacturer.
Hire a certified chimney sweep to clean your chimney.
Ensure that you know how the fireplace flue works.
Purchase and use a fireplace screen to control sparks.
Make sure that all combustibles are a safe distance from any heating source.
Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from all combustibles.
Dispose of ashes in metal container located away from buildings.
Provide proper ventilation.
Properly install smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.