How to Avoid Winter Fires

Fire season, otherwise known as the winter holidays, has begun, and firefighters want to pass on numerous tips to keep the season safe for county residents.

Here are some of the Do's when trying to prevent house fires:

Check smoke detectors on every level of your home.

Take extra care with portable or space heaters; keep combustible materials away from them, clean heaters regularly and refuel properly.

Check Christmas lights for broken wires.

Have your chimney and heating system inspected annually.

Store matches and lighters out of reach of small children.

Display large address numbers on your home so the fire department can easily see them.

Firefighters also suggest that you DO NOT:

Smoke in bed; use only sturdy ashtrays and check for spilled cigarette butts in furniture.

Overload electrical outlets; never override or bypass fuses or circuit breakers and keep cords out of harm's way.

Leave candles burning in any room unattended.

Leave cooking unattended.

Pull on the needles. If they cling tightly, the tree probably is fresh. Sticky resin on the cut end of the trunk also is a good sign. Bounce the tree on the ground. If needles fall in a shower, look for another tree.

Here is also a list of safe practices:

Check Christmas lights for frayed or bare wires, cracked sockets and loose connections.

If you use an extension cord, don't connect more than three sets of lights to each extension cord.

Turn off all the lights before you leave the house, or go to bed.

Artificial snow spray can irritate the lungs if inhaled. Tinsel or artificial icicles should be made of plastic or non-lead material.

Small children are subject to additional hazards. Fire-fighters advise keeping decorations with small removable parts or decorations that may resemble candy out of the reach of small children. Avoid breakable decorations.

Keep candles away from trees or any other evergreen decorations and place them where they cannot be knocked or blown over.

Do not dispose of wrappings in the fireplace. They can cause a flash fire.

They advise people using space heaters to:

Always follow manufacturers' directions concerning installation, use and maintenance.

Keep heaters at least three feet away from anything that might burn, including curtains and furniture.

Keep children and pets away.

Never leave a heater on or a fire burning when you leave the house or go to bed.

Wood stoves and fireplaces call for their own rules. Firefighters say to clean the flue at the beginning of and throughout each season, as necessary. Burn only seasoned hardwoods such as oak or hickory, never burn pine. This will prevent creosote from accumulating on the inner surface of the flue pipe and causing a fire.

Firefighters also say to use only crystal clear "K-1" kerosene.