The wildfires in California may be a sobering reminder of the importance of fire safety locally, especially in the dry winter months.
Generally speaking, there does seem to be more fire-related incidents during the winter, said Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company Chief Greg Quatchak.
“We also see an increase in the number of carbon monoxide alarms. The reasons for increased incidents are related to the cold temperatures and issues with furnaces and other heating-related items in residential homes,” Quatchak said.
Shawn O’Brien, president of Highland Volunteer Fire Company, said there are specific causes of fire emergencies this time of year.
“Winter is likely to have more incidents related to fireplaces. Residents should keep a fire extinguisher near a fireplace and have their fireplace cleaned annually so that residue in the chimney does not catch fire as they burn in their fireplace,” O’Brien said.
Fires also can occur with improper disposal of fireplace ashes, Quatchak said.
“Often, folks will bag their ashes after cleaning out their fireplace and place the bags in their garages, or on their decks, not realizing hot coals (or) ashes may still be present, which can ignite a paper bag or other flammable container,” Quatchak said.
In January, Quatchak’s crew was dispatched to a deck on fire. While a final cause of that fire has not been determined, Quatchak said they have had other deck fires that were caused by improper disposal of fireplace ash, which should always be disposed of in metal containers and stored outside and away from one’s home.
Quatchak said clogged fireplace flues, or creosote buildup in fireplace flues, can lead to chimney fires, which can extend into the home’s walls or attic spaces. He recommends fireplace flues be inspected and cleaned annually.
Andrew Ferrante, of Peebles Volunteer Fire Company, said people should pay attention to appliances.
“Do not plug too many appliances into a power strip, and always make sure (to clean) dryer lint collectors and filters for all appliances,” Ferrante said.
Follow the instructions located on the space heaters and be very focused on keeping them far enough away from combustible materials such as furniture, bedding and curtains so the heat they are generating cannot catch nearby materials on fire, O’Brien said.
Quatchak reminded space heaters should not be left unattended when small children are present. It’s best not to leave space heaters operating while not at home.
For areas with notable tree cover, such as Bradford Woods, there can be a potential increase of hazardous conditions, according to Ben Titus, chief at Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Department.
“Bradford Woods is home to an abundance of large mature trees combined with overhead power lines throughout most of the community. During the winter season, the accumulation of snow and ice on the trees often leads to an increase in fallen trees and power lines throughout the borough,” Titus said.
Another increase in calls over the winter months is due to carbon monoxide in homes and businesses.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, colorless poisonous gas that can enter a structure through vehicles running in garages and natural gas-burning appliances such as furnaces, hot water tanks and stoves, O’Brien said. Residents should have carbon monoxide detectors on the sleeping levels of their homes.
“Often during calls, we find homes with carbon monoxide detectors in the basement near a furnace, but if a furnace becomes faulty, it will spread the carbon monoxide throughout the home’s flue system rather than it staying in the basement,” O’Brien said.
An improperly maintained heating, ventilation and air conditioning system can introduce carbon monoxide into the home, leading to an increase in calls during the winter months, Titus said.
Also, incorrect use and venting of gas and wood fireplaces can lead to carbon monoxide alarm activation, Quatchak said.
The chemical makeup of the carbon monoxide is deadly, Ferrante said.
“This can be fatal as carbon monoxide binds to the blood 200 times better than oxygen,” he said.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds residents should treat it as any alarm and exit the structure immediately. Call 911 and the local fire department will come out and use meters to determine the CO levels and from where it is originating, O’Brien said.
The same goes for smoke detectors.
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“Smoke alarms are extremely sensitive — anyone who has cooked knows this — so they provide a family’s best opportunity to get out of the house if a fire should occur due to the early warning they provide,” O’Brien said.
The life expectancy of a smoke detector is 10 years, reminds Jeff Wissner, fire marshal for McCandless.
For those who received a free smoke detector from the Highland Volunteer Fire Department in 2014, thanks to a state grant, it’s time to change them, Wissner noted.
To see whether your detector is more than 10 years old, simply look on the back of the detector for a manufacturer date and add 10 years from that date. If the detector is more than 10 years from that date, it should be replaced, Wissner said.
Increased fire department incidents during cold weather also can be from frozen sprinkler piping systems. During January’s below-zero nighttime temperatures, the McCandless fire departments responded to several burst sprinkler water lines at a variety of commercial businesses and senior living facilities, Quatchak said.