Officials stress fire safety measures in winter months
The winter season can be a busy time for firefighters and this is no different for the firefighters in Franklin County.
The increase in fire calls can be contributed to the increase in residents using heaters, fireplaces, extension cords and other devices that can be potential fire hazards.
Russellville Fire Chief Joe Mansell said one simple way to make sure a home is prepared in the event of a fire is to have a working smoke detector installed in the residence.
“Many times, the smoke is what kills someone, not the fire itself,” he said. “In the event that there is a fire, a working smoke detector can alert the people inside the home so they can escape.”
RFD Capt. Randy Seal said that one of the biggest problems their department sees around this time of year are the old electric wall heaters.
“Many times people will think these heaters are turned off, but they usually have a thermostat on them that will make the heater kick on if it gets cold enough,” Seal said.
“We actually had a fire call about a month ago where the residents of one home thought their electric wall heater was off. They had piled clothes in front of it and one night that it got so cold, the heater kicked on and caught the clothes on fire. They were lucky not to lose their house.”
Mansell said the best way to prevent these wall heaters from becoming dangerous is to make sure nothing is placed in front of or near the heater, even when it’s supposed to be turned off.
“The same is true for portable heaters,” he said. “People will think they’re turned off and throw blankets on top of them.
“The best advice is, if you have to use a heater, make sure to unplug it when you’re not in the room. You just can’t be too careful when it comes to these heaters,” Mansell said.
Fireplaces can also be a fire hazard during the winter months. Seal said residents that plan to utilize a fireplace should have their chimney thoroughly cleaned before it is used.
“Soot and debris that can build up in a chimney can quickly cause a fire,” Seal said. “The chimney’s lining should also be inspected because one small crack could lead to an attic fire.”
Outdoor activities can be hazardous this time of year as well. Burning leaves and debris, a popular activity during the fall and into the winter, can be dangerous when humidity levels are low.
Seal said that they were called to a brush fire on Monday when the humidity was very low and the National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for outdoor burning.
“There are fire ordinances in place in the city, so the best thing to do is contact our department or another local fire department before burning anything,” Mansell said. “We’ll be able to give instruction on how to safely dispose of the unwanted leaves or debris.”
Seal added that contacting the fire department before burning anything is also a matter of safety.
“People who are driving around and smell or see smoke will call our department to report a fire,” Seal said. “ We then run emergency through the city and get to the scene to discover it is a controlled fire. It’s just better for us to know what’s going on beforehand, for safety’s sake.”
Mansell said that many wintertime fires can be prevented by being prepared and informed.
“Our department offers a program where the fire marshal or fire department representatives will do a walk-through of your home to check for fire hazards,” Mansell said. “We can offer advice on how to make your home safer and we encourage residents to take advantage of this service we offer.”
For more information or to contact the Russellville Fire Department, call 256-332-8761.
