NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRE MARSHAL IS URGING EVERYONE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND COLD WEATHER MONTHS.

BILL DEGNAN SAYS A HIGHER FIRE THREAT IS PRESENT DURING COLD WEATHER BECAUSE OF USE OF ELECTRICAL SPACE HEATERS, FIREPLACES AND WOOD STOVES – A THREAT THAT INCREASES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON BECAUSE OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS, CANDLES AND OTHER DECORATIONS.

HE SAYS DEATHS FROM FIRES TYPICALLY INCREASE FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY AND OFTEN RESULT FROM IMPROPER USE OF HEATING SYSTEMS, SUCH AS LEAVING PORTABLE SPACE HEATERS UNATTENDED, IMPROPERLY FUELING OF LIQUID OR GAS-FUELED HEATERS – IMPROPER DESIGN, INSTALLATION OR USE OF THE SYSTEMS – PLACING ITEMS THAT CAN BURN TOO CLOSE TO SPACE AND PORTABLE HEATERS – AND LACK OF REGULAR CLEANING OF CHIMNEYS IN FIREPLACES AND WOOD STOVES.

DEGNAN SAYS HOLIDAY CANDLES BURN AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 7-THOUSAND HOMES AROUND THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR, RESULTING IN PROPERTY LOSS OF NEARLY 60-MILLION DOLLARS.

HE SAYS THE HOLIDAYS ARE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW YOUR HOME ESCAPE PLAN AND MAKE SURE YOUR SMOKE ALARMS ARE WORKING.

FOR MORE IDEAS ON HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SAFETY FROM FIRES, YOU CAN LINK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY WEBSITE THROUGH “N-H DOT GOV” OR CALL YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.