With more cold weather expected in Scurry County in the near future, the Snyder Fire Department reminds residents to be careful when it comes to using indoor gas heaters.
Half of all home heating fires are reported between December and February, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Snyder Deputy Fire Marshal Nathan Hines said there are cases every year of house fires caused by indoor heaters and said they can often be prevented.
“People need to make sure stuff isn’t around the heater,” Hines said. “Also, generator safety is important to know because we had the ice storms and a lot of people were without power and using them.”
When it comes to indoor heat, it is important to keep anything flammable at least three feet from heating equipment, which includes furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves or portable space heaters. Children should be at least three feet away from open fires and space heaters. Heating equipment and chimneys should be inspected at least once a year by a professional.
Portable generators can be useful during power outages, but precautions should be taken. Generators should be used in well-ventilated locations away from doors, windows and vent openings. Generators should not be used in an attached garage, even if the door is open. They should be turned off and allowed to cool before refueling.
In recent years, deaths caused by carbon monoxide (CO) have increased as generator sales have risen. Every household should have CO alarms installed, and properly tested.
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