Wednesday, July 3, 2024
After several reports of house fires across Texas this week, including two large fires in the Central Texas area on Monday, there is often a correlation between house fires and freezing temperatures.
Following record-breaking low temperatures this week, Chief Billy Vaden with the Gatesville Volunteer Fire Department offers a few precautions that people can take to safely heat their homes and protect themselves from a fire.
Most house fires in the winter are mainly caused by some sort of heating problem, Vaden explains. Before building a fire in a fireplace or wood stove, he said it’s important to ensure they have been cleaned properly.
“A lot of times the chimneys are not cleaned, and the stove pipes are not clean, and they have a lot of creosote in them,” Vaden said. “That’s something you should always do – prepare way ahead of time and have all that cleaned.”
When it comes to fireplaces, Vaden said to ensure it has a safety screen in front of it and that wood is fully dry before using it to build a fire.
“Your wood does need to be dry because if it’s damp or wet it’s going to cause a lot of smoke and smoke will have carbon monoxide in it,” Vaden said.
Flammable items such as clothing, bedding, or paper should be kept at least three feet away from fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters, Vaden said. When using space heaters, he adds to make sure it has a setting that turns off if it falls over and to avoid using an extension cord to plug it into the wall.
“You have to plug it straight into the outlet on the wall because they can draw a lot of power, and most little extension cords that people have around the house are not capable of providing enough electricity or enough amps to make those heaters work,” Vaden said. “Never walk off and leave an electric heater running. You should always cut it off.”
Vaden reminds people to check the batteries of smoke detectors and ensure they are working properly, since they are beneficial at detecting early signs of a fire.
One of the most common issues that arise when heating a home is the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, an odorous and colorless gas that can be deadly, Vaden explains.
Always check to ensure carbon monoxide alarms are up to date. He advises replacing them every five years.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
If a fire or carbon monoxide is suspected in the house, Vaden said to always call 911.
“If you suspect something, don’t hesitate to call 911 and get somebody to come out and look,” Vaden said. “That’s our job to come out look and make sure you’re safe. We don’t mind it – nobody likes to get out in the cold but that’s our job.”
