Key West The Newspaper

We’ve had a fairly warm December, but Key West Fire Marshal Danny Blanco wants to remind residents that, even in the Keys, winter brings fire hazards that must be avoided. Space heaters, candles and dry Christmas trees top that list.

Each year, lives are lost and homes destroyed because of unsafe use of heaters. The following are some tips to ensure you don’t become a statistic:

• Never use ovens, ranges or grills as heating devices
• Install carbon monoxide detectors
• Keep all heating devices at least 36 inches away from other objects, including walls and furniture
• Never use an extension cord with a space heater, and never leave it unattended
• Keep candles at least one foot away from anything flammable and never leave one unattended
• Be sure your smoke alarm is tested monthly
• Use an artificial tree, or be sure your real one is fresh and keep it watered
• Use safe lights, check cords for wear, and don’t use more than three strands on one extension cord
• Keep candles a long, safe distance from the tree
• Do not allow children to handle the lights
• Never use indoor extension cords out of doors
• Unplug the lights before changing bulbs

Finally, even cooking can be hazardous if we don’t follow a few simple steps:

• Do not leave a stove unattended
• Keep saucepan handles turned away from the front of the stove so that children cannot pull them down
• If you deep fry a turkey, be extra careful; do not use the deep fryer under a deck and be sure to keep children away from that vat of hot oil