Portland Fire Department Reminds Residents to Heat Homes Safely

Portland, Maine - With extreme cold weather upon us, the City of Portland Fire Department would like to remind residents to heat their home safely by following some simple safety tips.

"Portable heating devices are a common cause of residential fires, said Fire Chief Jerome LaMoria. “It is important that residents follow some simple safety tips to keep themselves safe during this extreme cold weather."

Here are a list of these rules to help keep your home and family safe.

·          Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.

·          Frozen water pipes? Never try to thaw them with a blow torch or other open flame.

·          If windows are used as emergency exits in your home, practice using them in the event fire should strike. Be sure that all windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended.

·          The Portland Fire Department strongly discourages the use of unvented fuel fire heaters in occupied
buildings.

·          Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the home.

·          Although portable heating devices do not have an open flame, the heating elements might be hot enough to ignite nearby combustibles.  Face space heaters into a room, away from drapes, furniture, clothing, or other ignitable objects, and check these objects occasionally to make sure they do not feel hot.

·          Always keep portable heating devices away from water sources, such as tubs and sinks.

·          When selecting a portable heater or electric blanket, choose a brand tested by a nationally recognized laboratory (such as the Underwriter’s Laboratory [UL] label) to meet safety standards.

·          Purchase a heater with a guard around the heating element.

·          Purchase a heater that is right for the size of the room being heated.  Do not purchase oversized heaters. Space heaters should be placed no less than three feet from any combustible items.

·          Thermostatically controlled heaters keep energy waste at bay.

·          Read and follow instructions regarding operation and maintenance before using the heather or electric blanket.

·          Do not use the portable heater as a dryer.  Do not place anything on the heater.  Do not use the heater to thaw pipes.  Water and electricity equal disaster.

·          Keep the heater out of the reach of children and pets.  Do not place the heater where someone might trip over it.

·          Choose a heater with a ‘tip-over’ safety switch, which will automatically shut off the heater if the unit is tipped over.

·          Place the heater on a level surface.

·          Do not leave the space heater unattended.  Turn the heater off when leaving the room or the house.

·          Maintain a working smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector within the home and check and clean the devices on a monthly basis.

·          Make sure the electric blanket has an internal temperature control that will automatically shut off the blanket when it overheats.  It is strongly recommended that older models without this feature be replaced.

·          Use only one electric blanket (or heating pad) at the same time.

·          Do not plug your blanket into a light switch that may accidentally be turned on.

·          Do not tuck in the electric blanket, underneath the mattress, or anywhere else where the wires may be bent and overheated.

·          An electric blanket should never be balled up, doubled, or folded down.  Excessive heat could build up in the folded areas and cause a fire.

·          Nothing should be placed on top of the blankets.  This includes pets, other blankets, pillows, or objects that could cause the blanket to overheat.

·          Do not wash an electric blanket and do not dry-clean electric blankets, as the chemicals could weaken the wires. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

·          Store electric blankets flat.  If that is not possible, fold it with as few creases as possible to protect internal coils.

·          Do not use an electric blanket that is wet.  If the blanket is wet, DO NOT turn it on to dry it out.

·          Hot water bottles and electric blankets are not to be used together.

·          Check embedded heating wires before use.  They should not be touching anywhere inside the blanket, and definitely should not feel frayed or stressed.  Look for cracks or breaks in wiring, plugs, and connections.  Also look for dark, charred, or frayed spots on either side of the blanket.

·          Turn the blanket off when not in use.

For more information or questions about home fire safety, residents can contact the Portland Fire Department at 874-8400. Additional information about heating sources can be found at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa-249f.pdf.