The cold winter months are inching closer and Kamloops Fire Rescue want to ensure residents are finding safe options to heat their homes this year.
As the temperature drops fireplaces are being lit and people are blowing the dust off their space heaters, and with the natural gas shortage across the province this season more people may be looking for alternative methods to heat their home.
(via suvajit/Pixabay)“Never leave a space heater on at night or when you leave the house,” Weninger says, explaining that they should be used when someone is monitoring them.
Weninger also advises people to leave a three-foot radius around a space heater, keeping it free of clutter and especially anything combustible.
Investing in a space heater that includes an alarm when it's tipped over or has an automatic shutoff when such an incident occurs will also up your chances of avoiding a potentially dangerous situation.
Weninger adds animals and children should be kept from accessing the area around a space heater.
Those who use wood stoves or fireplaces are reminded to clean their chimneys regularly; this alone can greatly reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
“If you're installing a wood stove, you need to have a permit from the city,” Weninger says. “You also need to have it installed by a professional and have it inspected.”
“Ensure that your fireplace has a sturdy and secure screen to prevent sparks from escaping into your home,” he explains. "Ashes from the fireplace should be cool before putting into a fireproof container and discarding a safe distance away from your home.”
Weninger says that while it's common for people to dry clothes and other things around wood stoves and fireplaces, he strongly recommends this be avoided.
Combustible items should be kept at least three feet away, not only to avoid the potential escaping sparks but also to avoid fires starting from radiating heat.
Ensuring there is no clutter around your woodstove and fireplaces not only reduces the risk of fires starting, but it also allows easier access for firefighters in the event a fire does occur.
Weninger encourages Kamloops residents to install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. These should be installed on every level, especially outside of bedrooms. Ensuring all smoke alarms are working could also be a potential life safer that only takes a minute to complete.
If your fireplace doesn’t seem to be working properly, Weninger suggest putting out the fire and contacting a local company who specializes in fireplaces and wood stoves for advice or to have it inspected. If there is even a slight suspicion of a chimney fire, however, Weninger says to call 9-1-1 immediately.
