Chief Douglas Janvrin
3 Morgan Ave.
Newbury, MA 019510
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Newbury Fire Department Offers Fire Safety Tips for Fall
NEWBURY — With cooler weather already becoming more common, Chief Douglas Janvrin and the Newbury Fire Department would like to offer residents some safety tips for the fall season.
“We want residents and businesses to have a safe transition into fall,” Chief Janvrin said. “These tips are a good way to minimize potential hazards as the weather starts to get cooler and people start thinking about ways to stay warm.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is the leading cause of home fire deaths.
The Newbury Fire Department wishes to offer residents the following safety tips to help stay safe this fall.
- Ensure there are working smoke/CO detectors in every level and outside bedrooms.
- Test smoke/CO detectors monthly.
- Chimneys should be professionally cleaned annually.
- Wood and pellet stoves may only be installed with a permit.
- Keep debris, clothing, and anything else that can burn at lest three feet away from wood and pellet stoves or space heaters.
- Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid and store the container away from the house/garage/porch/deck.
- Do not use a space heater as your primary heat source.
- Plug space heaters directly into walls or only use heavy-duty or appliance-grade extension cords.
- Never leave space heaters unattended — do not run them while you are not home.
- Portable kerosene heaters are illegal in Massachusetts for home use.
Additionally, families should be sure to have a fire escape plan for their home, and ensure that all family members are aware of the plan and have practiced it within the last year. The plan should include a designated meeting place outside where everyone can safely reunite upon exiting during an emergency.
###