With The Sustained Cold Snap Coming, Flanders Firefighters Offer Advice On Staying Safe While Safe

FLANDERS, N.J. - Jan. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Some very cold temperatures are coming later this week and that means the heat will be turned up. Flanders firefighters know that when temperatures go down, the number of calls for faulty heating devices go up. They say there are some things people can do to stay safe while they’re staying warm.

“This is the time when everyone turns up the heat, or perhaps enjoys sitting by the fire,” said Fire Chief Michael McDermott. “But heating equipment can be dangerous. In 2011, for instance, heating equipment was involved in 53,600 house fires and 400 deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association. We’d like to prevent even one injury with these tips.”

·         Make sure your furnace has been inspected and serviced by a qualified technician in the past 12 months.

·         Make sure your chimneys and vents have been cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional. Watch for creosote buildup. Chimney fires are often caused by a buildup of creosote.

·         Use dry, seasoned wood in your fireplace and stove.

·         Make sure your stove or fireplace has a metal or heat-tempered glass securely positioned in front of the heating appliance, and check that it’s in good shape.

·         Place cooled ashes in a covered metal container. Keep that container at least 10 feet from the home or any nearby buildings.

·         Establish a three-foot safety zone for your children – and you – from the fireplace, stove or space heaters.

·         Make sure that portable space heaters have an automatic shut-off. Plug them directly into an outlet – don’t use an extension cord -- and three feet from anything that can burn. That includes bedding, paper, walls and people.

·         Make sure any equipment that burns fuel – gas, wood, propane – is properly vented to the outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

·         Check your smoke detectors. If you didn’t replace the batteries the last time you changed your clock, replace them. You need detector on every level of the home, inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. If possible, smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound. By the way, if your smoke detectors are over 10 years old, they should be replaced.

·         Check your carbon monoxide detectors. One should be located outside of each sleeping area. By the way, if your CO detector is more than seven years old, it needs to be replaced.

“There’s nothing more important than keeping our families safe,” said McDermott. “These tips can help people stay warm and stay safe.”

The Flanders Fire Company and Rescue Squad No. 1 provides fire protection and emergency medical services to residents and businesses in Flanders and, through mutual aid, surrounding towns. It is made up of about 45 members who receive training in fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, homeland security issues and emergency medical services. The fire company operates two fire engines, one tower truck, one heavy rescue, a brush-and-foam truck, two ambulances, a multiple-casualty unit and a mass decontamination unit.

In addition, the fire company offers public education services including lectures, demonstrations, training and a trailer that safely simulates a smoke-filled home. For information about membership, donations or public education, call (973) 584-7805 or click on www.flandersfire.org.

-30-