| Kids and Winter
Safety |
 With darker, shorter days upon us, it's important to make safety a
priority. Get tips here. |
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As the
temperature drops, the risk of home fires increases. Winter storms and power
outages may also create health and safety hazards. Lacey Fire District 3 offers
the following suggestions to help you and your family have a worry-free winter:
- Have furnaces, wood stores
and chimneys cleaned and inspected by a qualified heating company.
- When using kerosene or
space heaters, make sure there is a minimum of 36 inches of clearance on all
sides of the heater. Small children should not be left unattended in a room
with a space heater.
- If you have frozen pipes,
do not attempt to unthaw them with a torch or open flame. Use hot water or an
approved device, such as a hand-held dryer.
- Never burn cardboard boxes,
trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
- Never leave a fire in the
fireplace or burning candles unattended. Extinguish the fire before leaving the
house or going to bed.
- Always use a metal mesh
screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
- Have a carbon monoxide alarm
if you are using kerosene heaters, gas appliances or fireplaces. Carbon
monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to
see, taste or smell the fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in
your home.
- Have a home fire escape plan
- and practice it! Knowing how to escape your home can save your life.
- Make sure there are working
smoke alarms on each level of your home. Test them monthly and change the
batteries at least once a year.
- Stack firewood outdoors at
least 30 feet away from your home.
- Keep roof clear of leaves,
pine needles and other debris, and remove branches hanging above the chimney,
flues or vents.
- Never use propane or
charcoal barbeque grills indoors. They pose both a fire hazard and the risk of
exposing you and your family to toxic gases and potential asphyxiation.
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