As Ontario prepared to be blasted by chilling Arctic temperatures, Centre Wellington Fire & Rescue is urging people to keep fire safety in mind when taking steps to deal with colder winter weather.
The winter months traditionally sees more fires in Ontario homes that are related to heating equipment and appliances. People need to pay close attention to potential fire hazards related to the use of fuel-burning appliances, space heaters, and even block heaters in their vehicles.
“Block heaters should be treated just as any other piece of electrical equipment around the home," said Public Safety Officer Tom Mulvey. “Cords and connections should be in good repair and caution should be used to ensure circuits are not overloaded.”
Important fire safety tips for cold weather include:
– Burn dry, well-seasoned wood in fireplaces and woodstoves to reduce the risk of excessive creosote build-up in chimneys.
– Allow ashes from a woodstove or fireplace to cool before emptying them into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep the container outside.
– Keep intake and exhaust vents for furnaces and heating appliances free of ice and snow accumulations to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide build-up from inefficient combustion. Install carbon monoxide alarms to alert occupants to the presence of that deadly gas.
– Keep space heaters at least one metre (three feet) away from anything that can burn, including curtains, upholstery, and clothing.
– Replace worn or damaged electrical wires and connections on vehicles and extension cords and use the proper gauge extension cord for vehicle block heaters.
– Consider using approved timers for vehicle block heaters rather than leaving heaters on all night.
– Ensure that vehicles are not left running inside any garage or building.
Centre Wellington Fire & Rescue reminds everyone that the Ontario Fire Code requires smoke alarms to be installed on every storey of a home and outside of all sleeping areas. Failure to comply with that law can result in a ticket for $235, or a fine of up to $100,000. If anyone requires more information about smoke alarms or fire safety, contact Centre Wellington Fire & Rescue.
