Heating Tips to Stay Toasty and Safe When it's Freezing Outside

Anyone who has been outside in Easton knows that the weather has become increasingly frigid.

Temperatures in Easton tonight are expected to reach a high of -1 degrees with a real feel of -28 degrees, according to Accuweather.

As the weather drops, residents are going to find ways to keep warm. Fire Chief Kevin Partridge has issued some cold weather fire safety tips so that residents can stay safe while staying nice and toasty. “Sub-freezing temperatures dip this week will tax our heating and electrical systems as we try to stay warm, so a little caution can help you make you it safely through the extreme weather,” Partridge said in a statement.

• Residents should first make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working. Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide in the home, according to an Easton Fire Department press release. These alarms quickly alert residents if something is wrong so that they can escape safely, Partridge said.
• Space heaters and other heat-generating appliances help keep the house nice and toasty but they are not designed to replace a central heating system. Space heaters are designed to only provide heat on a temporary basis, Partridge said. Residents should turn the heaters off when they leave a room or go to bed. Space heaters should be plugged directly into an outlet to prevent a fire from sparking. “Cold snaps like this is when we tend to see space heater fires and one of every four space heater fires in the past five years has caused a fire injury,” Partridge said. “Space heaters need space, so use them in a three-foot circle of safety, free of anything that can catch fire.”
• Wood, Coal and Pellet Stoves can become fire hazards when the ashes are improperly disposed. Numerous recent fires in Easton have started from residents putting the ashes in plastic bags, cardboard boxes, plastic trash bins, in the garage and under the deck, said Partridge. Residents can dispose of ashes safely in a metal ash can with a lid. Keep the ashes outside the home or in the garage, according to Mass.gov.
• Residents should also get a licensed professional to clean and inspect the furnace or chimney for preventative maintenance. A properly functioning furnace is cheaper to run.
• Prevent freezing pipes by dripping water from the faucet and circulate heat around the pipes by opening the cupboards under the sinks.

Check out Mass.gov to find out more information on how to keep safe and keep warm this winter.

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