The holiday season is officially upon us and studies show that chances for house fire increase this time of year.
Butler City and Township Joint Fire Chief Chris Switala is offering some tips on how to avoid fires.
“There is a slight uptick in home fires during the holiday season,” Switala said. “A lot of them are due to cooking but another reason is portable heaters. Particularly, it’s the number one reason in house fires for older adults.” Switala said to make sure there’s enough space around the heater and any nearby flammable objects.
He also said if you’re looking to buy a new space heater, that there are new features you should be aware of.
“The big one is a tip-over sensor, so that way if it accidentally tipped-over it will turn the heater off,” Switala said. “The other feature is an over-heat sensor, so that way if it’s close to flammable objects, it will shut down once it gets too hot.” Switala said it’s also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen during the holiday season.
