Tips To Stay Warm And Avoid Winter House Fires

BRANDON, Miss – Cold winter weather means people are trying to stay warm. Unfortunately, if the proper precautions are not taken that extra heat could lead to a house fire.

Captain Michael Nickels with the Brandon Fire Department gave me some tops on how to avoid those unwanted fires and still keep warm.

SPACE HEATERS

1.     When buying a heater it is recommended to get one that has safety shut off features, meaning if they get too hot or tip over they shut off.
2.     Put heaters at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, or anything that is at risk of burning.
3.     Turn your heater off when you go to bed or leave the house
4.     Avoid using extension chords with heaters and check chords for cracks

FUEL HEATERS

1.     Refill fuel heaters outside of the home
2.     Do not add fuel to a hot heater

FIRE PLACE

1. Burn seasoned wood; it burns cleaner and prevents ash and cracks in the flue

2.     Have your fireplace and chimney inspected or cleaned annually
3.     Make sure your damper is open
4.     Do not put furniture to close to the fire place
5.     Do not leave a fire unattended

It is important you have smoke detectors installed and operational in your home and in the event a fire becomes uncontrolable Nickels recommends the first thing you do is to get out and call 911.