Seasonal and Household Safety

Cook Safely
Cooking Fire Safety (PDF with instructional images)
Prevent Kitchen Fires (PDF with instructional images) - Pictograph   Watch on YouTube
Turkey Fryer Fire Safety (PDF with instructional images)

Make sure smoke alarms are working - check batteries every six months

Winter Conditions

Winter storms can bring cause power outages that could last multiple days, and may close or limit critical community services.   Consider these winter tips:

  • Make an emergency kit with enough food and water to last at least three days
  • Keep space heaters at least three feet away from furniture and drapes.  Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements
  • Check carbon monoxide detector batteries regularly
  • Keep an extra emergency kit in your car, adding extras like a cell phone charger, ice scraper,  blanket, sand for traction and battery jumper cables
  • If you depend on electricity to operate medical equipment you should have alternate arrangements in place in case power is out for an extended period of time
  • Plan to keep pets inside
  • Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow, which can bring on a heart attack.  Take plenty of breaks, and push the snow instead of lifting it
  • When going outdoors, wear several layers of loose-fitting lightweight, warm clothing rather than one heavy layer. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves., and wear a hat and scarf that will cover your mouth to reduce heat loss

View additional tips on Snowstorms - Extreme Cold - Staying Safe & Warm (Ready.gov)

Wood Stoves & Fireplaces

  • Inspect the chimney yearly for cracks, loose bricks, or soot build-up
  • Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate a fire
  • Keep a glass or metal screens in front of fireplace openings
  • Never burn charcoal indoors - it can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide
  • Keep flammable materials off of  the mantel
  • Never close the damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. Be sure the fire is completely out before going to bed

Kerosene Heaters

  • Should be in good working condition with an emergency shut-off valve,  in case it tips over
  • Be sure the room is properly vented. Burning fuel (i.e. kerosene, coal or propane) produces deadly fumes
  • Never fill/refill indoors or while operating or still hot. Avoid overfilling, as cold fuel may expand in the tank when warmed

Furnace Heating

  • Have the furnace inspected to ensure that it and its controls/emergency shut-off are in good working condition
  • Repairs should be made only by a qualified specialist
  • If the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line are hot or discolored, more insulation or clearance may be needed
  • Check to be sure chimney flue pipes and pipe seams are well supported and free of holes and cracks
  • Keep trash and combustibles away from the heating system

The high cost of heating a home may have people searching for alternate, less expensive heating sources. The use of space heaters, wood burning stoves, and fire places are all acceptable alternatives; however, they are all major contributing factors in residential fires, many of which could be prevented by following these few fire safety tips.