4 safety tips to prevent house fires this winter
Firefighters have responded to 5 fires this past weekend alone.
The P.E.I. fire marshal is urging everyone to take extra care after firefighters responded to a streak of fires this past week.
Firefighters responded to five fires this past weekend alone — part of the growing number of fires Island fire departments have had to respond to since colder weather arrived a few weeks ago.
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Provincial Fire Marshal David Rossiter said an increase in fires is typical this time of year.
"It happens every year. Once the temperature goes down people are indoors a little more. The heating systems in their homes are taxed to their limit," said Rossiter.
Rossiter said Islanders should follow these four rules to help prevent a fire:
1. Smoke outside
If you smoke, smoke outside.
With colder temperatures, smokers are tempted to light up inside the house where it's warm.
"People get very complacent in their own homes and tend to cut corners," said Rossiter.
If smoking outside is not an option, Rossiter said to use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy surface, and make sure cigarettes are completely out before throwing butts away.
The best way to do this is by dousing them in water or sand.
2. Use heating equipment with caution
It's important that heating equipment like furnaces, fireplace, wood stoves or portable space heaters be handled with care.
There should always be three feet between heating equipment and anything potentially flammable.
"The thing to remember about space heaters is give them space," said Rossiter. "They require a certain amount of space so they don't come into contact with a combustible because if they do, they'll start a fire."
Rossiter also said stationary space heating equipment like water heaters or central heating should be installed by a professional.
When using portable heaters, remember to turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Lastly, space heaters should always be given the right kind of fuel required and follow guidelines for proper ventilation.
3. Don't leave candles unattended
Make sure to blow out all the candles when leaving the room or going to bed.
It's crucial to avoid using candles at all in any areas where people may fall asleep.
Rossiter said he encourages alternatives to candles.
"There are flameless candles that you can get at the local hardware store that are battery operated," said Rossiter.
If you still want to use the real thing, remember to keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn and make sure to use candle holders that are sturdy and won't tip over easily.
Also, candles should be put out before they can burn all the way down to the holder or container.
4. Test your smoke alarm
Rossiter said above all Islanders should have a working smoke alarm.
"If everything does go awry, you do have that as your last line of defence of being able to get out of a burning home in the middle of the night," he said. "The main thing is when you put your head down on your pillow, you should have that there to protect you."
Rossiter said he encourages all Islanders to test their smoke alarm once a week.
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