Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s and 40s for the next few days in the Oklahoma City metro. So, it’s a good time to think about fall fire safety, Oklahoma City fire officials said the most important aspect of home fire safety is making sure each home has a working smoke alarm. Alarms should be checked monthly and batteries changed annually.
Smoke alarms are available
• Get a smoke alarm. People without a working smoke alarm may call the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s public education section at 297-3318 for a smoke alarm and installation or contact their local Oklahoma City Fire Department station.
• Get a carbon monoxide alarm. They do not take the place of smoke alarms. These are sold in many stores. Any open-flame heater creates carbon monoxide and, if your heating devices in the home are not functioning, this gas can be deadly.
Keep heaters, furnaces and fireplaces clean
• Dust and lint can accumulate in space heaters. Clean the heaters thoroughly with a vacuum.
• Gas space heaters need to have the flame adjusted to blue to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide buildup.
• Warn children not to stand too close to a space heater to warm up. Their clothing could catch fire.
• Give space heaters some space. Be sure that all combustible material is at least 3 feet away.
• Floor furnaces are safest when they are equipped with a thermostat and automatic shut-off device.
• Clean floor furnaces by removing the grate and using a vacuum to remove dust and lint from inside the unit.
• Inspect fireplaces and chimneys at least once a year.
• Open the damper enough to allow the smoke and gases to escape up the chimney.
• Never start a fire with gasoline or any other flammable liquid.
• Keep a good-quality metal fireplace screen in front of the fireplace.
• Keep combustible items such as furniture at least 3 feet from a fireplace.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Never burn charcoal in a fireplace. Charcoal gives off deadly carbon monoxide.
• Burn only two or three natural logs at one time.
• Burn one artificial log at a time. Don’t mix them with natural logs.
• Place fireplace ashes in a metal container.
