Prevention key to avoiding fires in cooler months

Firemen to begin visiting school campuses to promote fire safety

As the weather begins to get cooler, the Forrest City Fire Department is gearing up to begin visiting schools to teach about fire safety and prevention.

FCFD Captain and Fire Safety and Prevention Officer Justin Sharp offered tips on how to prevent house fires while staying warm during fall and winter.

"The first tip I always give is to not use space heaters unless absolutely necessary," said Sharp. "We don't want to use space heaters unless necessary, and never use an extension cord with a space heater. Don't put space heaters next to drapes, curtains, beds or bed linens because those things can catch fire very easily. Don't put space heaters close enough that you may accidentally throw a blanket or clothes on top of it. Keep all of that stuff away from space heaters.

“I don't see any problems with heating blankets as long as they are not connected with an extension cord,” continued Sharp. “They generally have a long enough cord that they can plug into the wall and still reach the bed.”

According to a report from the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an estimated average of 48,530 fires involving heating equipment each year from 2014 through 2018. Those fires caused 500 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.

Sharp said that due to the amount of carbon monoxide expelled by generators and vehicles, generators should only be operated outdoors. He also noted that when warming up a car, people should make sure the area is well ventilated.

"If the power goes out and you have to use a generator, make sure it is used outside," said Sharp. "Never use a generator inside. If you are going to warm your car up in your garage, make sure that the area is well ventilated so the carbon monoxide can escape."

Sharp cautions against using stoves or ovens to warm an area due to the possibility of the flame going out and causing natural gas to leak into the home.

"It is never a good idea to use your stove or oven to warm an area," said Sharp. "It is never a good idea to use an open flame to warm an area unless it is a fireplace. If you plan to use a fireplace, find a service that can come out and clean the fireplace. Make sure it is free of debris or birds nests or anything that may be in there that could catch fire or cause a blockage that would prevent the smoke from escaping. Don't open the oven door and use that for heating. Those flames can go out and pure natural gas could be pouring into the home without anyone knowing, and if that finds and ignition source, it can be deadly."

Sharp said that on Tuesday and Wednesday, members of the FCFD will be visiting Central Elementary School to teach children the importance of fire safety and prevention.

(Continued from Page 1) "We will go through lunch, working with the children, helping them learn about fire safety and prevention. We have a number of tools, including our new inflatable fire prevention house, to help teach the kids how to prevent fires from occurring and what to do if they are faced with a fire."

According to Sharp, homeowners in Forrest City may still call the FCFD and request the installation of smoke detectors in their homes.

"We are still installing free smoke alarms," said Sharp. "The American Red Cross is still giving us detectors to install into homes throughout the city. If any homeowner would like to have these installed, they can give us a call at the fire department, set up an installation time and date, and we will get it done. These detectors have a built-in battery that lasts 10 years. We want to make sure everyone has a smoke detector."