Sisters blaze sparks safety concerns

Last week, Sisters firefighters put out a fire in a garage in Sage Woods, north of town.

According to Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler, the fire was caused by improper disposal of ashes from a wood stove. The homeowner cleaned ashes out of his wood stove, put them in a paper bag and placed the bag up against the wall of the garage. The ashes were hot enough to set the bag ablaze and start a small fire in the garage wall.

The advent of cold weather raises the risk of fire. Wheeler advises Sisters residents to be very careful with their wood stove ashes. Ashes may retain heat for days after they appear out.

"Make sure that you put your ashes in an approved (metal) container," Wheeler said. "Don't put them on the deck or next to anything that could catch on fire."

Once placed in a metal container, the ashes can be doused with water and once they are cold to the touch can be dumped and mixed with dirt.

There are other fire risks associated with winter, including flue fires.

State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson is urging Oregonians to have fireplaces, wood stoves, and other heating appliances inspected for safety.

"With the onset of cooler weather, we want to remind homeowners to have the chimneys and flues on their fireplaces and wood stoves cleaned and inspected before using them," says Simpson. "There have been at least five home fires (last month) related to fireplaces and wood stoves, with one of these fires resulting in the death of a 6-year-old child. Tragedies like this can be avoided if homeowners remember to have their fireplaces, wood stoves and other heating appliances professionally inspected before using them."

Have chimney and wood stove flues inspected and cleaned each year by a qualified chimney sweep. Ask them to check for creosote deposits, soot buildup, or physical damage.

Always use a fireplace screen. Make sure the screen is made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass to prevent sparks from escaping.

Keep a clutter-free environment. Store kindling, fire logs, and wood at least three feet from any heat source.

When using portable heaters make sure they come with an automatic tip-over switch and a high-temperature limit switch. The tip-over switch turns the heater off if it is knocked over. The high-temperature limit switch

regulates the heater, preventing it from overheating.

Give heaters space. Keep at least three feet of space between the heater and combustibles such as furniture, curtains, papers, and people. Check heater electrical cords. If the cord is frayed, cracked, or becomes hot, have it serviced.

Never use an extension cord with a portable electric heater. It can overload the circuit and cause a fire. Unplug heaters when not in use or before going to bed.

Working smoke alarms alert you to a fire and more than double your chances of surviving a fire. In a fire, minutes could mean the difference between life and death.

Install smoke alarms in every home, on every level, outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom. Test and vacuum your smoke alarms each month to make sure they are working. Smoke alarms 8 to 10 years old or older should be replaced.

Make a home escape plan and practice it with your family at least twice a year.