Wednesday’s Winter Hazard Awareness Week Them is Indoor Fire Safety

(KNSI) – At the midway point, indoor fire safety is in focus as part of Winter Hazard Awareness Week.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Todd Krause with the National Weather Service says the need for constant heating and lack of ventilation combine to make fires a true threat this time of year. “Those that are in the fire services, we hear that wintertime is one of the more concerning times for fires, so make sure you’ve got working smoke detectors in every room.”

Krause once again recommends being familiar with the upcoming forecast. Whether it is heavy snowfall or high winds, if the power goes out and a generator or space heater is used inside, that is another source of fire risk.

Krause points to what should be a source of joy and good cheer as a potential fire hazard. The danger of a blaze amps up immediately in the winter due to the holiday season. “A lot of people are going to have a Christmas tree, a live tree there in the living room. So, it’s just a matter of making sure that it’s frequently watered, that it isn’t brittle and so on, and watching that very, very closely.”

Another tip is to put up decorations away from a furnace duct or other heat source. Also, take care of the chimney. It should be inspected for creosote buildup and cleaned if necessary before Santa comes and to keep the family safe.

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