HomeMy WebLinkAboutFeb. 12 - February Fire Prevention
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Lauryn Grimes, Communications Intern
Phone 952-826-9522 • commintern@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prevent Fire Hazards and Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Edina, Minn., Feb. 12, 2015 – The Edina Fire-Rescue & Inspections Department encourages residents to
practice safe use of alternate heating sources and to test their carbon monoxide detectors.
According to Fire Inspector Brian Hanrahan, people turn to alternate forms of heat during the winter to
warm places like ice houses and garages.
In order to stay safe, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal recommends the following:
Maintain a three-foot clearance around all heat-producing appliances like furnaces and water heaters.
Maintain a three-foot clearance around portable heaters and turn them off when leaving the room or
going to sleep.
Never use your oven to heat your home.
Make sure wood stoves are properly installed and ventilated.
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane natural gas or charcoal-burning
device inside your home, basement, crawlspace, garage or any partially enclosed area.
Have your home heating system/furnace serviced and maintained, and chimney cleaned and inspected
annually. Ensure everything is working properly, ventilated and used as intended/designed.
With an increased use of heating appliances comes an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, so it is
important to have carbon monoxide detectors. These detectors should be installed in central locations on
every level of a home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
Hanrahan encourages residents to test their carbon monoxide detectors as often as smoke detectors to
ensure the batteries work. He asks residents to become familiar with each alarm, understand the difference in
alarm patterns and the digital readings if the model has one.
If you’re going on vacation, think about if where you’re going has them. Most recently built hotels and resorts
are required to have them, but older hotels and cabins may not. “Take one with you on vacation,” Hanrahan
noted. Wherever heat is present, there is a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, so taking the right
precautious may mean the difference between life and death.
For more information, visit the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s website or contact the Edina Fire Department
at 952-826-0393.
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City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424