Fire Safety

Winter Safety Tips

Cold weather is here! Here are some winter safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe and help JFD help you in an emergency.

• Shovel areas around fire hydrants that are near your homes or apartments.  By doing this, you help save seconds in a fire emergency where the Firefighters need to access the hydrant(s). Also make sure you do not park any vehicles or trailers in front of the fire hydrants.
• Make sure you have your chimney inspected every year for damage and buildup.  Chimney fires can be prevented by having good maintenance done annually.
• Be sure any vents on the ground level of your house are clear from ALL debris. This includes snow, leaves, and other shrubbery/foliage. This helps prevent carbon monoxide build inside the home preventing emergencies. 
• If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, leave your home and call '911' immediately.  Stay out of the home until the fire department arrives and determines that the house is safe to enter.
• Shoveling and salting your driveway can help save lives... and keep your neighbors from finding embarrassing videos of you slipping on the driveway ice on their Ring Doorbells! 
• When packing away your holiday decorations, be sure to leave adequate room around the furnaces and other utility equipment in the basement and storage rooms.  This will prevent ignition of the stored decorations by a malfunction with the heating equipment.
• Candles NEED to be watched while they are burning.  Never leave a candle unattended.  Be sure to keep candles out of reach of children and pets. 
• Be careful while driving and keep a small emergency kit in your vehicle, that includes things like a blanket and a shovel.  If you get stuck in a snowbank or ditch, do not wander away from your vehicle because it can protect you from wintry weather.  Remember that all mobile phones can dial '911.'