Winter Weather Safety
By: Kristen Kennedy
Updated: October 21, 2008
Our first freeze may be just days away, and Lubbock's Fire Department says, now is the time to check your homes for winter weather safety hazards. Phone calls to fire departments go up when the temperature drops. Garett Nelson with the Fire Marshal's Office says it's important to check furnaces and space heaters now, before you start using them to heat your home. Furnaces need to be cleaned and checked by professionals, and space heaters should be placed at least three feet from any flammable objects.
"You have your spring cleaning, let's have our fall fire safety check. Walk through your house and look for things that normally cause fires. Think about the heater coming on. If you don't know how to check it out yourself get somebody else to do it," says Nelson.
It's important to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors also. Furnances will emit dangerous carbon monoxide fumes if they're working improperly.
