How to Keep Your House Warm and Safe (As Seen on Eyewitness News At Five)
By: Lynda Baquero
Updated: January 15, 2013
Across the country, the numbers are grim...
According to the national fire protection association, equipment used to heat homes caused more than fifty-seven thousand fires in 2010... Killing 490 people.
Fire Safety Expert Fire Chief Thomas Magno-- who offered tips... Starting with your fireplace.
"Always make sure you have your flue inspected once a year, cleaned if necessary. Very important, always have a safety screen, okay, its gonna keep any embers that are popping out, in the fireplace, keep it safe. Another important thing is to have a fire mat or material such as this slate, god forbid, anything comes out, its not gonna burn."
Next we turned our attention to stoves... Sometimes used to heat homes, especially during power outages.Keep children -- and pets-- away from the heat...
Same goes for space heaters.
"Leaving papers and magazines around, someone opens the door, the wind comes, pushes it right into it, starts a fire and we've had fires even with pets knocking these over." Added Magno
Chief Magno recommends replacing the battery once a year, preferably in the fall.
And remember, they last about five years. Then it's time for a new one.
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