As the National Weather Service forecasts potentially hazardous winter weather for the upcoming weekend, the City of Carbondale is actively preparing to respond. A press release (reference here) has been put out with full information regarding emergency snow routes, shelters, and safety tips for winter storms.  

We are now releasing each subject individually for assurance or receiving and ease of taking in information.  

Below is a compilation of safety guidelines as residents prepare their homes for winter weather.  

Prepare your home and family: 

• Prepare for possible isolation at home by ensuring you have sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. 

• Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic. 

• Winterize your house, barn, shed, or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock, or equipment. Clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks, and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm. 

• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic wrap, and let faucets drip a little during cold weather to prevent freezing. 

• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and ensure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions. 

• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts). 

• Know in advance what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors, or employees. 

• Hire a contractor to check the roof's structural ability to sustain unusually heavy weight from an accumulation of snow or water if the drains on flat roofs do not work.  

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit: 

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways 

• Sand to improve traction 

• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment  

Fire & Carbon Monoxide Safety: 

Residents may seek alternative heating sources during severe winter weather. These often can pose extra hazardous fire risks. Please see the following information to ensure utmost caution when using alternative heat sources. Never use your oven or gas stove to heat your home! 

Kerosene Heaters 

Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut-off in case the heater is tipped over. Never use fuel-burning appliances without proper room venting. For example, burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane) can produce deadly fumes. Use only fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. Never introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type of fuel. Keep kerosene or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, well-ventilated storage areas, and outside the house. Never fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling. Do not use cold fuel, which may expand in the tank as it warms up. Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). Keep young children away from space heaters, especially when wearing nightgowns or other loose clothing that can easily catch fire. When using a fuel-burning appliance in the bedroom, ensure proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.  

Space Heaters 

Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions. Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Always use the right kind of fuel specified by the manufacturer for fuel-burning space heaters.  

For more information regarding portable heater safety, please contact the Carbondale Fire Department at 618-457-3234 or visit the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org 

Carbon Monoxide 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas. It is a common by-product of incomplete combustion, produced when fossil fuels (like oil, gas, or coal) burn. Because you can't see, taste, or smell it, carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it's there. Exposure to lower levels over time can make you sick. Gas or oil appliances, such as furnaces, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters, or space heaters, can produce CO. When appliances and vents work properly, and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow complete combustion, the trace amounts of CO produced are typically not dangerous. And usually, CO is safely vented outside your home. Problems arise when something goes wrong. An appliance can malfunction; a furnace heat exchanger can crack; vents can clog, or debris may block a chimney or flue. Fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, charcoal grills, or gas logs can produce unsafe levels of CO if they are unvented or not adequately vented. Exhaust can seep into the home from vehicles left running in an attached garage. All these sources can contribute to a CO problem in the house.  

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces  

Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed correctly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (36") from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection. Wood stoves should be high-quality, well-constructed, and UL-listed. Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time. Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire. Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out and unwanted material from entering, and help avoid the possibility of burns to occupants. The stove should be burned hot twice daily for 15-30 minutes to reduce creosote buildup. Do not use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire. Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite these materials. Before you go to sleep, be sure your fire is out. Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire heat up again and force toxic carbon monoxide into the house. If using synthetic logs, follow the directions on the package. Never break an artificial log apart too quickly or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.  

Furnace Heating 

You must inspect your furnace to ensure it is in good working condition. Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shut-offs are in proper working condition. Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself unless you are qualified. Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. Additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required if the wall is hot or discolored. Check the flue pipe and pipe seams. Please make sure they are well-supported and free of holes and cracks. Soot along or around seams may indicate a leak. The chimney should be solid with no cracks or loose bricks. All unused flue openings should be sealed with solid masonry. Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.  

Other Fire Safety Tips 

Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Please place them in a metal container outside and away from the house. Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device. Not only is it a safety hazard, but it can also emit potentially toxic fumes. If you use an electric heater, do not overload the circuit. Only use extension cords with the necessary rating to carry the amp load. Choose an extension cord the same size or larger than the appliance's electrical cord. Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come into contact with water. Never try to thaw frozen water pipes with a blowtorch or any other open flame. The pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the wall structure inside the wall space. For thawing, use hot water or a UL-labeled device, such as a handheld dryer. If windows are used as emergency exits in your home, practice using them in the event of a fire. Be sure that all the windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended. If there is a fire hydrant near your home, you can assist the fire department by keeping it clear of snow so it can be located if needed.  

Finally  

Be sure every level of your home has a working smoke alarm, and check and clean it every month. Plan and practice a home escape plan with your family. Clean the oven and range regularly. Keep kitchen clutter away from the range and oven. Be extra careful with matches and candles. Candles should be made of flame retarding materials - look for a label stating such. Always place candles in fireproof containers. Avoid loose, flammable clothing. Clothing often catches fire around candles, matches, fireplaces, and ranges (electric and gas). Keep decorations away from heat sources such as open flames, electric heaters, and exposed electric bulbs.  

These winter fire safety tips are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Fire Administration, and the City of Carbondale Fire Department.  

For more information please contact the Carbondale Fire Department at 618-457-3234, the City of Carbondale Office of Emergency Management (COEM) at 618-457-3245, or visit the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org.