Winter Freeze

As we prepare for to warm ourselves this winter, here are ten tips to check off your list from the Parks and Recreation department to help you stay safe!

1. Furnace has been inspected and serviced by a qualified professional during the last 12 months. (A furnace should be serviced at least once a year.)
2. Chimneys and vents have been cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional.
3. Check for creosote build-up. (Not cleaning your chimney is the leading cause of chimney fires from built up creosote. This service needs to be done at least once a year.)
4. Wood for a fireplace or wood stove is dry, seasoned wood.
5. Fireplace screen is metal or heat-tempered glass, in good condition and secure in its position in front of fireplace.
6. Have a covered metal container ready to use to dispose of cooled ashes. (The ash container should be kept at least 10 ft. from the home and nearby building.)
7. Children should know to stay at least three feet away from the fireplace, wood/pellet stove, oil stove or other space heaters.
8. Portable space heaters have an automatic shut-off and be plugged directly into an outlet (not an extension cord) and placed at least three feet away from anything that can burn; like bedding, paper, walls, and even people. (Place notes throughout your home to remind you to turn off portable heaters when you leave a room or go to bed.)
9. Test smoke alarms and made sure they are working. (You need smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. For the best protection, the smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.)
10. Test carbon monoxide alarms and made sure they are working. (Carbon monoxide alarms should be located outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.)