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Kansas City Fall Fire Safety Tips

As the temperatures in Kansas City dip to welcome in fall, many families start to think about turning on the heat. No matter what source the heat comes from, fall is the perfect time to assess the safety of furnaces, heaters, and other heat sources. Kansas City families should understand the potential dangers that come along with the cold weather season. Following a few common sense safety tips will help prevent tragedy.

Annual Maintenance Checks
Gas powered furnaces and heaters carry the risk of developing leaks that will allow carbon monoxide to escape. Undetectable by the senses, carbon monoxide is considered a silent killer. Individuals do not generally experience the effects of the gas until enough has leaked out to cause serious illness or even death. A safety inspection by a qualified heating and air conditioning (HVAC) technician is a yearly must. HVAC technicians will check for small cracks and leaks that would be otherwise undetectable, until it is too late.

Install a carbon monoxide detector if you have a gas powered furnace. A detector should go on each level of the home and near sleeping areas. Treat a carbon monoxide detector like a smoke detector. If the alarm sounds, escape as quickly as possible from the home and call 911. Learn the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves
Fireplaces, wood burning stoves, and their flues should undergo an annual safety inspection by a qualified professional as well. Creosote and other debris pose a fire hazard as they collect inside the flue or chimney. Blocked flues and/or chimneys can also pose a risk for carbon monoxide build up back into the home.

For wood burning heat sources, safety is imperative. Wood stoves should be installed according to the manufacturer's specific directions. Ideally, wood stoves should be at least three feet away from walls, furniture, and other combustibles. The stove should sit on a fire safe floor, such as title or concrete. The floor should extend far enough in front of the stove to help catch any sparks that make escape when wood is placed inside.

Treated lumber and trash should never be burned inside a fireplace or a wood stove. Both pose risks for fire in the flue. Treated lumber can give off a toxic gas. Be careful when you add wood to the fire. Some woods, like hedge, give off sparks as they burn. Add new logs carefully. Fireplaces and wood stoves should be kept under careful supervision, especially around children.

Space Heaters
Portable heaters and space heaters pose a great fire risk. Studies suggest that portable heaters pose the highest risk of fire and subsequent fatality. Just like more permanent heat sources, inspect portable heaters for safety. Electric heaters should be inspected for cords that are free from cracks and fraying ends. Discard any heaters that seem to overheat while operating, or heaters that trip breakers while in use.

Heaters that burn liquid fuel must be used very carefully. Add new fuel to a cooled heater; adding fuel to a hot heater can cause a fire to start. Only use the exact grade of kerosene or other fuel specified by the manufacturer. Store the fuel outside of the home and away from the source of heat. Ideally, liquid fuel heaters should not be used inside the family home.

General Safety Reminders
Learn and practice important fire safety tips. Every floor in the home should have a working fire alarm. Test the alarm monthly and be sure to replace batteries often. Every family should have a planned escape route in case of a fire. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it regularly. The plan should include a designated meeting place where family members can meet up and be accounted for. Plan for an escape from two different exits. Instruct family members to stay outside of the burning home; never re-enter a burning building for any reason. Call the fire department from a neighbor's home or a cell phone safely away from the home.

All home heat sources, including central heating systems, should be inspected annually. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a fire or a faulty heating system, contact the Kansas City personal injury lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys if you have questions about your rights. Call 888-348-2616 for your no obligation, no cost initial consultation. For more information, download a free copy of the resource guide 10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim.

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