Georgia Insurance coverage and Security Fireplace Commissioner John F. King issued the next assertion Thursday encouraging fireplace security throughout the winter climate months. The week of Dec. 7-11 has been named Winter Climate Preparedness Week by the Georgia Emergency Administration and Homeland Safety Company.
“As chilly fronts transfer in and temperatures drop, Georgians are digging out winter garments from basement bins and plugging of their house heaters for the primary time in months,” stated Commissioner King. “Winter climate can current distinctive risks that generally result in a rise in reported fires this time of yr. The next ideas can save lives, stop property injury, and guarantee fireplace security in your house throughout the winter months.”
- Preserve flammable supplies like bedsheets and blankets three toes away from any warmth supply.
- Extinguish any fireplace in your hearth and switch off any house heaters while you go away the world or go to mattress.
- Guarantee your heater is examined by a acknowledged testing laboratory, and have your chimney inspected by knowledgeable every year.
- Store for a heater that has an computerized shut-off if the heater ideas over.
- Plug transportable heaters straight into retailers with out every other merchandise on the identical circuit.
- Put hearth ashes in a metallic container with a lid and place the container greater than 10 toes from your house.
- Preserve a glass or metallic display in entrance of your hearth and shut the doorways to your wooden range.
- Do all you possibly can to ensure “on” switches for fireplaces are stored out of a kid’s attain.
- By no means use an oven to warmth your house.
- Depart the warmth on and switch your thermostat to 65 levels in the event you go away your house for an prolonged interval.
“Particularly within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s essential that Georgians take fireplace security severely so there may be not a pressure on native fireplace stations heading into the vacation season,” continued King. “Georgians with questions can at all times verify our web site for extra ideas, observe us on social media, or take a look at companion companies just like the U.S. Fireplace Administration.
“We’re grateful for GEMA, the Nationwide Climate Service, and the Georgia Division of Transportation as they promote winter climate preparedness this week.”
