Fire official warns of holiday, winter safety hazards
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Gas and wood stoves are a popular heating source during the winter, and fire officials suggest an annual cleaning for safety. JOURNAL PHTO/BRITTANY DURGIN

Fire Department officials are warning area residents to be careful and to keep their houses safe this winter season.

Westminster Fire Captain Kevin Nivala said it is important to keep certain safety measures in mind as they heat their house for winter and decorate for the holidays.

"You have to follow the directions on the Christmas lights to make sure you aren't overloading the circuits," he said.

The lights that cover many Christmas trees and the front of houses can cause electrical fires if there are too many strands plugged into each other or into a single outlet. Nivala said simply read the directions on the safety tags on the lights or on the box to find out what the limits for each set of lights, because they do differ.

If the directions are gone or if the lights are more than a couple years old Nivala suggests replacing them, saying, "if quality is a question, toss them."

"They're inexpensive compared to the cost of your belongs and your house," he said.

Lights are not the only decoration people should be sure to care for during the next few weeks.

"If you get a real tree make sure to water it," he said.

Nivala said while most people no longer put real candles on the Christmas tree, it is something no one should do because of the high fire hazard. The candles should be watched no matter their location in the house.

"People take candles for granted," Nivala said.

He said candles in glass jars are the safest because they are contained and stable, but no matter the container all candles should be put out before going to bed or leaving the house.

Decorating the house and the tree aren't the only things people should be careful with this holiday season.

Before turning on that self-cleaning oven, wipe off the heavy greasy drippings or other food leftovers. Nivala said the high temperatures and the grease can combine to cause a fire and heavy smoke.

"We've had a few of those every year," he said.

High temperatures and flammable materials also cause Nivala to suggest that everyone should take the time to check and replace the batteries in their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

"Every home should have (a carbon monoxide detector), that burns fossil fuel," he said.

He said whether it is the fireplace, an appliance (like a stove), or the heating system that uses the fossil fuel, the detectors are important.

One of the ways to avoid having a problem that would require either the smoke or carbon monoxide detectors to go off is to have all of the items serviced once a year. Nivala said it will help with both the efficiency but also the safety of running the systems.

Nivala said the carbon deposits can back smoke back out into the house if they're not cleaned out regularly. The Westminster Fire Department responds to between six and 12 of these a year, he said.

Nivala said the efficiency of those items with their use of gas and oil burners will also improve with yearly cleanings by professionals, and chimneys and stovepipes should also have an annual professional cleaning.

"If people weren't burning the fire as hot, the creosol is formed, and then as the fire gets hotter the creosol burns," Nivala said.

He said during the cleanings the heating systems and appliances are checked for cracks in the flues, which if repaired prevents the fire from traveling into the home and limiting the damage in all cases.

He also knows the cold weather and high oil cost may lead people to using space heater to supplement the main heat source. He said using space heaters as a supplement is fine but that people need to remember to keep them away from curtains, afghans and other cloth material around the house.

"The biggest thing we see problems with is when people aren't using them for their intended purpose," he said.