Heating Safety Reminders

If you plan to use a woodstove to supplement your winter heat…have your stove and chimney inspected by a qualified inspector before putting it in service.

That’s the message from Houghton and Keweenaw County Emergency Coordinator Jack Dueweke.

Dueweke believes the higher cost of home heating fuels this year will put wood stoves and chimneys into service that may not have been checked for years. That can spell trouble for family’s and for the first responders who will be called to respond to a fire caused by a faulty heating system.

Other safety measures include checking electrical outlets for overloading, using extension cords safely, and making sure you have a working fire extinguisher where you can get to it.

The most important steps are making sure smoke detectors are working properly and developing a family escape plan in the event of a fire.