Storm season is officially upon us and that can mean power outages, wind warnings, ice and even snow.
As residents gear up for colder weather, Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey offered some tips to help keep your home warm and safe in the coming months.
B次元官网网址淲e typically are busier in the fall and winter months,B次元官网网址� said Aubrey, noting heat sources are the second leading cause of fires in Canada.
B次元官网网址淚f we do have prolonged power outages we just want to make sure people arenB次元官网网址檛 doing risky things.B次元官网网址�
He reminded residents that items such as barbecues and patio or exterior heaters should be left outside and are not safe to operate in your home or garage B次元官网网址� even if the door is open. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 an exhaust thatB次元官网网址檚 filling your house with carbon monoxide,B次元官网网址� he said.
Langford Fire Rescue received its first carbon monoxide call of the season last week and Aubrey noted itB次元官网网址檚 a good reminder for everyone to make sure detectors are in proper working order.
In that case, the resident was warming up their vehicle in the homeB次元官网网址檚 garage and while they do it regularly, on that particular day it caused dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in a nearby suite.
Since carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless, tasteless gas, having an alarm can literally mean the difference between life and death. B次元官网网址淚f you donB次元官网网址檛 have a detector you donB次元官网网址檛 know you have a problem,B次元官网网址� Aubrey added. B次元官网网址淔or the cost of a detector, your life is so [much] more important.B次元官网网址�
Anyone with gas appliances should have detectors and Aubrey noted the same rules apply as for smoke detectors, which means one should be on each level of your home and in the vicinity of appliances but not right next to them.
If you didnB次元官网网址檛 test your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms when the clocks went back earlier this month, now is the time.
ItB次元官网网址檚 also the time to service gas appliances.
B次元官网网址淭hey do need a little TLC to make sure theyB次元官网网址檙e functioning properly,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said, adding by doing regular maintenance any potential problems will be discovered early.
But that doesnB次元官网网址檛 just apply to gas appliances, as all heating sources should be checked and cleaned before being used. Whether itB次元官网网址檚 vacuuming baseboard heaters to ensure no particles have accumulated or having wood stoves and chimneys properly cleaned and inspected, it can save residents from disaster.
Aubrey noted roughly two weeks ago the department responded to an incident where the mortar around a fireplace had worn away causing ash and embers to fall onto the floor.
The homeowner woke to find their home filled with smoke and firefighters discovered embers had actually been burrowing into the wood floor under the fireplace.
The home also didnB次元官网网址檛 have working smoke detectors.
B次元官网网址淓verything in that situation was what weB次元官网网址檙e trying to avoid,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said, adding regular maintenance is key. B次元官网网址淭hen you have that peace of mind.B次元官网网址�
With trees likely to come down in the coming weeks due to high winds and wet grounds, Aubrey reminded residents to stay away from and downed power lines and to phone 911 if they are a danger.
Like us on and follow us on
