Over the weekend, a Northeast Georgia man became the 86th fire fatality in Georgia this year. John Yates, 58, of Hartwell died in a fire that investigators believe was caused by poorly positioned space heaters inside his mobile home. Yates’ death and a recent rash of fires in the region, including Habersham County, have raised awareness of residential fire hazards.
“Winter weather can present unique dangers that commonly lead to an increase in reported fires this time of year,” says Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. “Especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial that Georgians take fire safety seriously, so there is not a strain on local fire stations heading into the holiday season.”
That strain on services was evident overnight in Habersham when Clarkesville and county firefighters were called to two separate electrical fires within hours of each other. The fires displaced two families and killed a family pet. One fire was caused by an electrical short in a humidifier, the other by a short in an electrical wall outlet.
Tips to guard against fire
While some fire hazards can be difficult to detect, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family:
- Keep heat-producing appliances unplugged when not in use
- Never cut the 3rd prong off of a power cord to make it work.
- Only use extension cords temporarily.
- Never plug in a device with a damaged cord.
- Follow all directions that come with any electrical appliance.
- Replace faulty outlets
- Update your home’s electrical systems if needed
- Don’t overload extension cords or outlets.
- If you have breakers that are kicking off, have an electrician determine the issue before something more severe occurs
- Keep flammable materials like bed sheets and blankets 3 feet away from any heat source.
- Extinguish any fire in your fireplace and turn off any space heaters when you leave the area or go to bed.
- Ensure your heater is tested by a recognized testing laboratory, and have your chimney inspected by a professional each year.
- Shop for a heater that has an automatic shut-off if the heater tips over.
- Plug portable heaters directly into outlets without any other item on the same circuit.
- Put fireplace ashes in a metal container with a lid and place the container 10+ feet from your home.
- Keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace and close the doors to your wood stove.
- Do all you can to make sure “on” switches for fireplaces are kept out of a child’s reach.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
- Leave the heat on and turn your thermostat to 65 degrees if you leave your home for an extended period.
Click here for more fire safety tips and useful information for protecting your family and home.
RELATED
Fighting fires before they start: Safety education in the age of COVID
