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From the Chief
The Virginia Pilot Currents has graciously
provided space for Fire Chief Don Horton to address current
issues related to fire safety with Portsmouth citizens.
Links to the Chief's column are listed below with thanks to, and
permission of, the Virginia Pilot.
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5 December 2010
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I hope everyone has enjoyed a safe and happy Thanksgiving. We have been
blessed with great weather during November, but colder times are coming.
If you haven’t had your heating system and chimney serviced and inspected
yet, make a call to your service technicians.
We are well into the holiday season, so I want to remind everyone of a few
safety tips to keep our decorating and cooking safe for everyone:
Artificial Christmas Trees - We recommend artificial trees
in your home. Artificial trees are much less likely to start a fire and do
not spread fire nearly as quickly as live trees. If you purchase a pre-lighted
tree, make sure it carries a UL or equivalent listing. These have been tested
in safety laboratories to ensure fire and electrical safety standards are met.
Natural Christmas Trees - If you must use a live tree, keep it
as far as possible from heat sources such as fireplaces or heat vents. Heat
from these sources will cause your tree to dry out much more quickly and they
can catch your tree on fire from heat, flame or sparks. Keep water in your tree’s
reservoir to keep it from drying out and remove natural trees as soon as they do.
Holiday Lights and Decorations - Check your lights each year for
wires that are worn out, cracked or have bare spots on the insulation. Purchase
lights and electrical decorations that are rated by UL or an equivalent safety
laboratory. Make sure that you don’t overload extension cords. Plug your lights
into a power strip before plugging the strip into an outlet. Turn you lights and
decorations off when leaving a room.
Candles - Avoid using lit candles. According
to the National Candle Association, candles start more than 15,000
fires each year. If you must use candles, make sure they are in
stable holders and place them where they are unlikely to be knocked
over, starting a fire. Keep small children and pets away from
candles. Extinguish candles when leaving a room. Never leave your
home with candles lit.
Holiday Cooking - Our holiday meals are a great time
for sharing and catching up with friends and family, but it’s easy to
become distracted from food on the stove and in the oven. Make sure
that someone is “captain” of the kitchen and remains on watch. Keep
small children and pets away from a hot stove.
As always, prepare for the worst by having operating smoke and carbon
monoxide alarms. We will be happy to provide smoke alarms if you don’t
have one and will install them without charge. Please call us at 393-8689
or request one via our website at www.portsmouthva.gov/fire.
The Portsmouth Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services family wishes your family
a safe and happy holiday season.
Don J. Horton
Fire Chief |
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