AVON LAKE, Ohio -- Winter isn’t over yet, and the Avon Lake Fire Department wants you to know that fires in the winter are more common than in any other season.
Nick Cincone is one of the fire inspectors in Avon Lake. “Taking a few simple steps now can prevent chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and other potential hazards in the winter,” said Cincone. “With winter weather and the heating on and fireplaces and space heaters being used, extra caution is needed.”
Cincone said the Fire Department has a smoke detector program for some of the city’s residents. “We will supply batteries for smoke detectors for people who need them. For those who can’t change them, we will put them on a schedule, and for those who can’t afford the smoke detectors, we can supply one or two detectors.”
If a resident buys their own smoke detectors, Cincone said, be sure there is a “UL approved” label. At minimum, he said, put one smoke detector on every level of the home -- and especially near the bedrooms and in the basement.
“The ideal now, though,” he said, “would be one inside each bedroom.”
He also recommends a photo-electric type of smoke detector. “They alarm quicker, as opposed to the ionization type,” he said. “They go into alarm mode quicker. For 90 percent of fires, they sense the fire quicker.”
With closed-up houses in the winter, Cincone recommends carbon monoxide detectors, too.
“At least one near the sleeping area and one near the furnace and water heater area,” he said. And make sure that they, too, are UL approved (though the label may also say ULFM). Both mean that the detector has been tested and meets standards.
And speaking of carbon monoxide, Cincone said don’t ever let your car idle in an attached garage, even with the garage door open. Pull it out of the garage first, he said.
“Opening the door is a help, but, for safety, pull it outside before running it.”
There are also other hazards homeowners should be aware of this time of year, said Cincone.
“To ensure your house is safe this winter, we’ve pulled together a checklist of some important inspections and services that will reduce risks and make for a more peaceful season.”
· Have your HVAC system inspected yearly and change your furnace filter.
· You should also check that nothing is blocking your vents and that exhaust is able to escape safely away from your home and property.
· In order to maintain a safe chimney, your chimney flue should be cleaned and inspected annually by a licensed professional. That person will clean the flue and will identify and repair any cracks. Failure to service your chimney could result in a deadly chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
· According to the U.S. Fire Administration, most dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months. Lint accumulation is often the cause, so you can reduce risk if you make a habit of emptying the lint trap before and after each load. You should also do a regular check of the dryer vent to make sure it is clog-free. Calling a professional dryer exhaust technician to check and clear your dryer vent can be extremely effective and help prevent future clogs.
For more information on keeping your home safe from fires, contact the Avon Lake Fire Department’s Fire Prevention/Public Education Bureau which is staffed by an assistant chief and two part-time personnel who are state certified fire safety inspectors.
Visit https://www.avonlake.org/departments/fire or call 440-933-6141.
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