Prevent fires in the home as deep freeze settles in

A space heater is pictured in a furnished room.

As Simcoe County heads into a deep freeze with windchill values reaching minus 30, the risk of fires can increase.

But there are things the public can do to prevent fires.

Fire Chief Chris Ferry said crews responded to a fire on Thursday in a mobile home where the water lines were frozen. He said the owners of the home used a torch to thaw the pipes, which is not advisable. The torch had set the wooden floor on fire.

Instead, Ferry recommends using a heat trace cable to help keep the pipes warmer.

Ferry also is asking residents to help firefighters out by keeping fire hydrants shovelled out. He said he recently returned from a fare where the homeowner had, luckily, shovelled out the hydrant so fire crews could access it quickly and efficiently.

With this amount of snow and all the shovelling and snow blowing, Ferry says, it’s important to keep vents for the water tank and furnace clear.

“Make sure exhaust and fresh air intake are clear so carbon monoxide doesn’t build up in the home,” says Ferry.

Ferry also notes with the extreme cold having descended on the region, people might be inclined to use portable space heaters in their homes.

“There should be a meter clear around those,” Ferry says. “They should be set in a place not around anything that’s combustible. And they shouldn’t be plugged into an extension cord but directly into a wall outlet.”

Another fire that Orillia fire crews responded to was one involving a candle.

Ferry reminds people if they are using using candles, to not leave them unattended and to put them out properly when done. Even better, Ferry recommends using LED candles instead and then there’s no open flame.