We encourage you to follow these maintenance and safety tips to prevent incidents this season:

The number one cause of fires in residential occupancies is cooking, followed by smoking, and heating appliances.

Oil and gas fired appliances should be inspected and serviced by a certified technician at least annually. Air intakes and exhaust vents need to be checked regularly and after every storm, as blocked intakes and vents will contribute to Carbon Monoxide building up in the building.

Wood-burning chimneys should be cleaned at least annually and checked at least monthly to ensure there is no build-up of creosote that will lead to a chimney fire. Combustible material should not be within 36 inches of woodstoves unless listed for reduced clearances. Ash should be stored in metal containers or deposited outdoors far from buildings.

All exits must be kept clear from ice and snow, even rarely used exits need to be clear as the fire may make the commonly used exit impassable.

Besides sprinkler systems, the next best way of surviving a fire in the home is working smoke detectors. Working Carbon Monoxide detectors will be your best defense against the colorless and odorless gas.

Lastly, Thank you to all who help keep the fire hydrants clear of snow, we greatly appreciate this help.

By following these fire prevention tips, we can greatly reduce the risk of an incident in your home.