The first cold snap of the season brings a reminder from Cookeville Fire Chief Benton Young about using heating equipment correctly.
More than 400 people nationwide die annually from fires related to heaters.
“Probably the space heaters, we see a lot of those in the winter, where people’s trying to supplement heat in a room or bedroom or whatever it may be,” Young said. “And again it’s usually related not so much the heater’s fault, it’s related to an extension cord or a power strip or something like that is usually what we see.”
Young said heaters should plug directly into the wall. Young said portable heaters should sit on flat, non-flammable surfaces at least three feet from furniture, curtains and other combustible materials. He recommends turning off and unplugging the devices before going to bed.
Young said gas and propane heating systems should receive annual inspections, while fireplaces and wood stoves need yearly flue inspections and cleaning to prevent creosote buildup. He said the department typically encounters several chimney fires each year.
Young said residents should also check the expiration dates of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before using their heating systems. He recommends carbon monoxide detectors on every level of a home, particularly where natural gas or propane heating equipment is used.
“Carbon monoxide is a colorless odorless gas, so without the detectors you’re really not going to have any indication that that’s an issue,” Young said. “Long-term type exposure to it you can have headaches, nausea, that kind of stuff, but short-term exposure you’re not going to know unless you have a carbon monoxide detector.”
Young said residents using generators during winter power outages should operate them outdoors, away from garages and covered carports where carbon monoxide could accumulate and enter living spaces. Gas-powered generators should also cool before refueling.
Young also cautioned against leaving candles unattended during power outages because pets or other household activity could knock them over and start fires.