Temperatures across Alabama will plunge this weekend, with wind
chills in the teens in some locations.
While you’re keeping warm inside your home, make sure you’re
doing so safely. Heating fires are the second most frequent cause of fires, behind
cooking fires, and they happen more often in winter than any other season,
according to FEMA.
Here are some safety tips from the Alabama State Fire
Marshal’s Office.
Never plug a space heater into a power strip, which can
overheat and cause a fire. Space heaters should only be plugged directly into the
wall.
Always turn space heaters off before going to bed and keep
anything that can burn at least three feet away from heaters and fireplaces.
Make sure your fireplace has a screen to prevent sparks from
flying into the room.
Never use an oven or stove to heat a home.
Test your smoke detectors once a month but pressing the “test”
button. Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home,
including in every bedroom. They should
be replaced every 10 years.
Carbon monoxide detectors should also be installed on each
level of the home, in all the major living quarters and outside sleeping areas.
Make sure nothing is blocking the exits to your home. In the
event of a fire, escape paths need to be clear. If you have to evacuate your
home, call 911 and do not go back inside.