Don’t Get Burned by Winter Fires

— from RJ Myers of the Orcas Fire and Rescue District —

As we move into colder months, we find that fires are being lit for the first time since spring and heaters are being brought out of storage. Orcas Island Fire and Rescue would like to remind you about a few safety precautions to take, as we get ready for the winter.

-Have chimneys checked by a professional and cleaned if necessary
-Never burn trash in your wood stove
-Clean out ashes when cool and place into a metal container
-Make sure smoke alarms are working and placed in the same room as stove and within or adjacent to sleeping areas.(OIFR provides smoke alarms and batteries to residences in need of them.)
-Install a CO detector within your home to monitor Carbon Monoxide levels within the home.
-Talk with your family about exit routes from the home and practice a pre-fire plan, making sure each person understands two ways to get out of the house and where to meet in the yard in case of an emergency.
-Check portable heaters for a seal of approval from an independent testing laboratory and make sure the unit has an automatic shut-off.
-Ensure that flammable materials are not in direct contact with any heating unit, including baseboard heaters.
-Have fire extinguishers in areas where burning materials are or near heating units.
-Always have an experienced electrician install or modify hard-wired heating units in your home.