Tennessee Homeowners Told to Get Ready for Cold Weather

Old man winter has already paid a rather costly visit to many states in the U.S. Some of the states that have been particularly hard hit are areas that are not accustomed to the level of cold temperatures and snow like traditional cold weather areas. Tennessee has seen close to record cold and snow since the early part of December.

The Fire Marshal for Tennessee, Leslie Newman, wants Tennesseans to stay warm for the balance of the winter. She urges residents to be extremely cautious when using alternative heating sources such as fireplaces, woodstoves and space heaters. Newman warns residents about the higher number of fire injuries and deaths when non-traditional sources are used.

The Fire Marshal's office has come up with some safety tips for homeowners that use alternative heat as well as those with conventional forced air systems. First, and foremost, on the list is to make certain your smoke alarms are in working condition. For a small investment of time and money, a working smoke alarm can save lives.

If you use a space heater, make sure it is placed at least three feet away from anything combustible. This includes furniture, bedding and any type flammable chemicals or aerosol can. Space heaters should have the seal of approval of a testing lab such as Underwriters Laboratory. Also, look for models with automatic shutoff features. And never use extension cords with electric space heaters.

If you enjoy the ambience of a fireplace, or just use it for heat, make sure your chimney is professionally cleaned. Cleaning will remove combustible materials that accumulate and build up in the flue.

If you have any type of kerosene heating appliance it must be installed with proper ventilation. Never re-fill a kerosene heater in an area without proper ventilation and make certain the unit is cool to the touch. Never substitute gasoline for kerosene!