Heating your home safely during winter

As the weather gets colder, pay extra attention to potential fire hazards, writes Central York Fire Service Chief Ian Laing

Yorkregion.com
November 17, 2020

As we enter a new season and the temperatures start to drop, we will be using more home heating equipment to stay warm during the colder months. Central York Fire Services (CYFS) reminds residents to pay extra attention to potential fire hazards, such as fireplaces, furnaces, chimneys, vents, appliances and space heaters.

Here are some simple things you can do to stay fire safe during the colder months:

• Have all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually by a registered fuel contractor. Go to COSafety.ca to find a contractor near you.
• Keep chimneys and intake/exhaust vents for furnaces and heating appliances free of debris.
• Burn dry, well-seasoned wood in fireplaces and wood stoves to reduce the risk of excessive creosote buildup in chimneys. Remember to always open the flue before using your fireplace to prevent smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) from entering your home.
• Allow ashes from your fireplace or wood stove to completely cool before emptying them into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep the container outside.
• Keep space heaters at least one metre (three feet) away from anything that can burn, including curtains, upholstery and clothing.
• Consider using CSA approved timers for vehicle block heaters rather than leaving heaters on all night.
• Ensure that vehicles are not left running inside any garage or building.

 

CYFS also reminds residents to ensure that working smoke alarms are installed on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. CO alarms are also required outside all sleeping areas if the home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage.

For more fire safety tips, visit cyfs.ca or call CYFS at 905-895-9222.