The State Fire Marshal’s Office issues a call to action for home heating safety following a fatal house fire in Washington Parish. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires.
“We have been able to associate that it was a space heater in use. That was the cause which of course is the catalyst to us getting the message out but definitely also utilizing that frigid forecast as a catalyst.”
Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 38 thousand block of Bill Simmons Road in Mt. Hermon Tuesday where the 82-year-old bedridden homeowner was trapped inside.
Rodrigue says common heating-related causes of fires are preventable. If your home doesn’t have adequate heating and you plan to use a space heater, she suggests plugging it into a wall outlet…
“Plugging them in to extension cords or a power strip that is not meant to withhold that much energy is going to create an overheating hazard which then of course can become a fire.”
Space heaters should also be placed three to five feet away from anything that can catch fire easily. And if using open flames like candles, or fireplaces to stay warm, put them out before going to sleep and never leave them unattended.
Rodrigue urges you to practice space heater safety. She says a working smoke detector has proven to be the difference between life and death in a fire emergency.
“Go home today, take a look around. If you have those smoke alarms, check them and make sure they’re working. If they need new batteries, put those batteries in. If you don’t have a smoke alarm, go out and get one.”
If you need a smoke detector, visit Operation Save a Life at the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office website or call your local fire department.
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