Town of Harrisburg issued the following announcement on Jan. 31.
Check out these Fire Safety Tips for when there is a winter storm!
Did you know…
• Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, account for just over two out of five home heating fires and four out of five home heating fire deaths.
• The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (27%) is failure to clean creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
• 54% of home heating fire deaths are contributed to heating equipment too close to objects that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses, or bedding.
• Nearly half (48%) of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February.
Top Safety Tips:
• Keep anything that can burn, at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot, kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• When refueling kerosene heaters, be sure to move them outside to refill.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
Stay safe and warm, Harrisburg!
Original source can be found here.
Source: Town of Harrisburg
