Brandon Fire Chief Bob McArthur and Brandon substation Sgt. Tim McIsaac shared their tips on having a safe and secure holiday season, free of fire and theft.
Tips for preventing fire
Higher energy costs may result in an increased use of fireplaces and woodstoves this winter and subsequently, accidental fires.
Brandon Fire Chief Bob McArthur says chimney and woodstove fires have been on the decline since the 1980s, but with rising fuel costs, he is concerned more people will burn wood in an attempt to save money and that is when problems occur.
‘Wood burning is a very high maintenance type of heating,? McArthur said. ‘Installation of units is critical and so is maintenance. It comes to be zero degrees and (people) don’t want to clean the chimney or check that it is staying clean.?
McArthur says chimney fires are almost always caused by creosote, residue left over from the combustion of wood, that builds up on the chimeny walls and becomes combustible, causing a chimney fire.
Some chimneys need to be cleaned once a year, while others need to be cleaned once a month, depending on the fireplace usage.
‘The main thing is to check that it is staying clean,? McArthur says.
There are companies that will do this for customers, or fireplace owners can do it themselves- purchasing a brush and rods. McArthur cautions it is a very messy job and with some chimneys, it is necessary to get on the roof, making it a dangerous task as well.
McArthur hasn’t seen any products on the market that will remove creosote.
‘You’re going to do some work if you have a chimney or woodstove,? he says. ‘Don’t do it if you’re not prepared for the work.?
While the Brandon Fire Department does not check to see whether chimneys are clean, they will do free inspections of woodstoves and fireplaces to make sure they are properly installed.
Another unintentional fire caused by wood-burning occurs when ashes are placed in a cardboard box or paper bag and placed on a deck or near to a home. McArthur calls those fires the most pitiful, because they are preventable.
Even if the ashes are three or four days old, they smolder and when they are stirred up and given oxygen, then placed in a bag, they catch fire, often at 3 or 4 a.m. McArthur sees a fire like this every year and says it can be prevented by placing ashes in a non-combustible container and removing from the home immediately.
McArthur offered some other tips for safety at this time of year, including:
Don’t put a live tree up in the house until the week before Christmas and take it down immediately after the holiday. Christmas trees dry out very quickly.
Make sure proper lighting is used in light displays. Follow manufacturer’s suggestions and avoid old and frayed extension cord wires.
Use candles under supervision and in the proper containers, away from combustibles. ‘Fires caused by candles is most often because they were not put out when leaving home or going to bed,? McArthur says. ‘Or because they were too close to combustibles. Candles with wreaths look nice, but they’re not practical. Candles in the jars they belong in are nice.?
Change furnace filters and do not store items near furnaces.
Use carbon monoxide detectors. McArthur says carbon monoxide detectors should be in every home, and near the bedrooms, not downstairs in the basement or near the furnace.
‘By the furnace there will be very little (carbon monoxide),? he says. ‘It pumps up through the ductwork.?
How to avoid becoming a victim of crime
Christmas may be a joyous time of year, but it’s also a time for increased crime and accidents.
Brandon substation Sgt. Tim McIsaac recalls a Christmas Eve four years ago. A local family was at church and when the homeowners returned, they surprised thieves that had broken in. The thieves were apprehended and possessions recovered, but other families haven’t been so lucky.
McIsaac has several tips for homeowners and shoppers alike to avoid being a victim.
At home:
Keep the garage door closed. The reason is twofold: One, no car in the garage advertises that no one is at home. Two, the items in your garage might be very attractive to thieves.
Keep the doors locked. To your home and to your vehicle, even if it is parked in your driveway.
Talk to your neighbors. They will be more likely to keep an eye on your house.
Get an alarm system or a dog. In rural areas, McIsaac says these two things come in even more handy, since neighbors might not be close.
‘Some bad guys knock on doors in the middle of the day and if no one answers they’ll break in,? McIsaac says.
The Brandon substation provides house watch forms. Citizens going out of town can fill out a form and a deputy will drive by while the homeowner is on vacation Deputies can check doors to make sure they’re locked. Homeowners can list vehicles that are authorized to be at the home, as well as give an emergency contact number.
McIsaac has more advice for shoppers:
Don’t advertise gifts in your car. Hide them in the trunk and lock the car.
Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t walk with your head down, keep it up and look around. Stay off the cell phone, have keys ready and once in your vehicle, lock it immediately.
Don’t walk around with cash in your hand. Use debit cards.
An increase in the number of drunk drivers is also seen at this time of year. McIsaac urges citizens to get a designated driver for holiday parties.