Columbia Fire Department provides home heating tips this Winter

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)— The Columbia-Richland Fire Department released some safe home heating tips for residents during the upcoming frigid weather.

The Department wants to stress these important reminders:

FOR SPACE HEATERS

• Keep anything that can burn (including carpet) at least 3 feet away from
  heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space
  heater. Only use space heaters on hard surfaces e.g.: hardwood, tile, etc.
• Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

Courtesy: Columbia-Richland Fire Department

OTHER HEATING REMINDERS

• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year
  by a qualified professional. Also, make sure your home heating equipment is UL
  listed.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Never use a portable generator inside your home. Place it outside and at
  least 10 feet away from the building.
• Install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning. If you
  smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home
  immediately and call your local fire department or gas company. Make sure that
  CO alarms are on each level of your home.
• If a power lines falls KEEP CLEAR OF IT and call 9-1-1 !
• If a tree falls on your home and causes significant damages, exit the
  structure and call 9-1-1.
• If you lose power, report it your power company ASAP! Also be sure to
  have an emergency kit on hand that includes water, flashlights and plenty
  of spare batteries.

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