communicate and connect!
By Amber Schindeldecker
SFM Public Information Officer
The leaves are falling, days are getting cooler and pumpkin spice is everywhere. Along with those iconic indicators of fall come a new set of fire safety concerns. People are firing up their furnaces for the first time, or digging their space heaters out of storage. Now is the time to remind Minnesotans how to properly prepare for a safe heating season.
- Alternative heating: The number of home fires spikes in the winter months as people use alternative heating sources like space heaters. This fact sheet will help families stay cozy and safe.
With the introduction of heating elements, comes a concern of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is especially true if cooking and heating units that burn fuel are not properly ventilated or malfunction. Take care to remind your communities to test their CO alarms to ensure they are in working order, along with their smoke alarms.
Those of us in the fire service know that October means we turn our attention to Fire Prevention Week, which takes place Oct. 8–14. The theme this year is "Cooking safety starts with YOU." The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's blog on Monday, Oct. 9 will be dedicated to this campaign and the theme of cooking safety. Make sure to direct people to this blog and our SFM social media posts throughout the week. Feel free to share on your channels as well!
- Cooking: Unattended cooking is still one of the leading causes of deadly fires. Follow these simple tips to avoid a kitchen fire.
Last but not least, don't forget about Halloween this month. Fire risks abound with bonfires, candles, lit pumpkins and flammable costumes. Engage with your communities to ensure Minnesota's ghosts, ghouls and goblins have a safe and happy holiday!
