Perry Joint Fire District Wants to Keep You Safe and Warm This Winter

Perry Joint Fire District, November 11, 2008 — As the temperature outside drops, Perry families take to the indoors to keep safe and warm. What they may not realize is that turning up the heat can increase the risk of home heating fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly half of all home-heating fires occur during the winter months. The latest NFPA research shows that heating equipment was involved in 62,200 reported U.S. home structure fires in 2005, with associated losses of 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 civilian injuries, and $909 million in direct property damage.

“While these numbers are frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable,” Chief James McDonald. “We can reduce the number of home heating fires in our community by taking some simple precautions and using heating equipment properly.”

NFPA and Perry recommend some simple home heating safety tips, so residents can help keep our community safe and warm this winter.

-Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

-Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

-Plug power cords only into outlets with suffcient capacity and never into an extension cord.

-Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

-Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if necessary.

-Use a sturdy fireplace screen.

-Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.

-Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For best protection interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home - when one sounds, they all sound. Test alarms at least once a month. Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.

-Never use an oven to heat your home.

-For fuel assistance, contact the National Fuel Funds Network at 1-202-824-0660.

Fire Department T-Shirts
Now Available For Purchase
Stop in at Station Number One to get your Perry Fire Department T-Shirt.

Kids Small & Medium $13.00
Small to X-Large= $15.00
XX-Large= $17.00
XXX-Large= $18.00
XXXX-Large= $19.00

Blue or Grey

Fire Department T-Shirts Now Available For Purchase Stop in at Station Number One to get your Perry Fire Department T-Shirt. Kids Small & Medium $13.00 Small to X-Large= $15.00 XX-Large= $17.00 XXX-Large= $18.00 XXXX-Large= $19.00 Blue or Grey

Kids Small & Medium $13.00 Small to X-Large= $15.00 XX-Large= $17.00 XXX-Large= $18.00 XXXX-Large= $19.00

Fire Department T-Shirts
Now Available For Purchase
Stop in at Station Number One to get your Perry Fire Department T-Shirt.

Kids Small & Medium $13.00
Small to X-Large= $15.00
XX-Large= $17.00
XXX-Large= $18.00
XXXX-Large= $19.00

Blue or Grey

Kids Small & Medium $13.00
Small to X-Large= $15.00
XX-Large= $17.00
XXX-Large= $18.00
XXXX-Large= $19.00