Winter Safety Tips
Alternative methods of home heating such as wood burning stoves, pellet stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces are acceptable. They are however, a major contributing factor in residential fires. The following tips can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter.

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is a by-product of combustion.
     It is undetectable by all human senses.

All fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters and other fuel burning appliances using oil, gas, wood or coal can produce high      amounts of CO, either by needing repair or by a clogged chimney or vent. Running cars in a garage attached to your      home is also a source of CO.

One thousand Americans are killed by Carbon Monoxide annually.

Ten thousand will seek treatment of symptoms. Many times the symptoms are misdiagnosed as the flu.

Early recognition of CO can only be made by a carbon monoxide detector.

KEROSENE HEATERS
It is unlawful to use a kerosene heater in your home in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

WOOD STOVES AND FIREPLACES
To use them safely:

Be sure the stove or fireplace is installed properly. Woodstoves should have adequate clearance (36") from      combustible surfaces, and proper floor support and protection.

Woodstoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be UL listed.

Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.

Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.

Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out,      unwanted material from going in, and help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.

The stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup.

Don't use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the      chimney by overbuilding the fire.

Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.

Keep flammable materials away from your mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite these materials.

Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace.
     A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.

If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package. Never break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire
     or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.

FURNACE HEATING

It's important that you have your furnace inspected to insure that it is in good working condition.

If you have recently had your oil burner replaced, please contact your Fire Department to schedule an inspection.

Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition.

Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself unless you are qualified.

Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional      pipe insulation or clearance may be required.

Check the flue pipes and pipe seams. Are they well supported? Free of holes, and cracks? Soot along or around      seams may be an indicator of a leak.

Is the chimney solid? No cracks or loose bricks? All unused flue openings should be sealed with solid masonry.

Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

OTHER FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house.

Never use a range or an oven as a supplementary heating devise. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be source of      potentially toxic fumes.

If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Only use extension cords that have the necessary rating      to carry the amp load.

Avoid using electric space heaters in bathrooms, or other areas where they may come in contact with water.

Frozen water pipes? Never try to thaw them with a blowtorch or other open flame, (otherwise the pipe could conduct      the heat and ignite the wall structure inside the wall space). Use hot water or a UL labeled device such as a hand held      dryer for thawing.

If windows are used as emergency exits in your fire escape plan, practice using them in the event fire should strike.      Be sure that all windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended.

If there is a fire hydrant near your home you can assist the fire department by keeping the hydrant clear of snow so in the      event it is needed, it can be located easily.

FINALLY

Be sure every level of your home has a working smoke detector, and be sure to clean and check it on a monthly basis.

Install Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home except for basements and attics that do not have      habitable living spaces (i.e., family rooms, dens, etc.)

This information provided courtesy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and supported by the Plainville Fire Department.