As you stay cozy and warm this winter, stay fire smart!
1 in every 7 home fires and 1 in every 5 home fire deaths involves heating equipment. The Carbondale Fire Department would like to share the following tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:
- Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month
- Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year
- Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container, and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters
- Plug only one heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time
- Never use an oven to heat your home
- Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed
For more information on heating fire safety, contact the Carbondale Fire Department at (618) 457-3234 or visit Fema.gov