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Friday, July 30, 2010 |
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Officials urge caution when using heaters
Published December 11, 2009
SEGUIN — As winter weather creeps its way into Guadalupe County, local fire officials are asking people to be cautious when trying to keep warm.
Last Friday the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department, the Seguin Fire Department and the County Line Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire involving two RV trailers at Elm Creek RV Park that started from a space heater.
New Berlin Fire Department Chief Kurt Strey said space heaters are a common cause of fires.
“The lady last week in the RV fire narrowly escaped with her life because of a space heater, and we’re glad she did,” Strey said. “The biggest problem we have with space heaters is people placing them to combustible materials.”
This was the first space heater related fire the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department responded too, but they are concerned there are more to come, Strey said.
“We are forecasting an extended cold and wet period, which means people will be looking for ways to heat their homes,” Strey said. “Space heaters are easy to use, and they are relatively inexpensive so a lot of people have them. We’re predicting more space heater related fires, unfortunately.”
One thing Strey and other firefighters around the area recommend are space heaters with special tip-over safety features. Seguin Fire Department battalion chief James Vogel said older space heaters usually do not have the extra safety features.
“The older space heaters don’t have the sensors that shut the heater off when it tips over,” Vogel said. “Those can be a big problem. We definitely want to be sure that people aren’t using a kerosene type heater or a commercial heater indoors because of carbon monoxide.”
Vogel recommends that people make sure carbon monoxide detectors are working properly in homes, as are smoke detectors, and that people have working fire extinguishers on hand in case of an emergency.
“People also need to have their homes’ heaters checked annually,” Vogel said. “They need to make sure the heater is burning properly and that it is properly ventilated.”
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