WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1976
PUBLIC URGED TO TAKE CARE WHEN USING ROOM HEATERS
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WITH THE ARRIVAL OF COOLER AND DRIER WEATHER, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN USING PORTABLE HEATERS IN THE IR HOMES AND PLACES OF WORK.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS WAS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN KEROSENE AND ELECTRIC HEATERS CAME INTO WIDE USE AND WHEN FIRES WERE LIKELY TO OCCUR BECAUSE A FEW SIMPLE SAFETY RULES WERE OVERLOOKED.
+A COMMON CAUSE OF FIRES ARISING FROM THE USE OF ROOM HEATERS IS THROUGH PLACING THEM IN UNSUITABLE LOCATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT. THESE INCLUDED AREAS CLOSE TO INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR MATERIALS, OR WHERE CHILDREN PLAY.
+BEFORE TURNING ON ANY TYPE OF HEATERS,+ HE SAID, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THOUGHT BE GIVEN AS TO WHICH IS THE SAFEST SPOT TO PUT IT. KEEP IT WELL AWAY FROM CURTAINS OR BEDDING MATERIALS AND ALSO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT TOO CLOSE TO UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE. SATISFY YOURSELF FULLY THAT IT CANNOT BE KNOCKED OVER BY PLAYING CHILDREN OR ELDERLY PEOPLE.+
HE SAID A NUMBER OF KEROSENE HEATER FIRES STARTED WHEN PEOPLE TRIED TO FILL OR MOVE THE HEATERS WHILE THEY WERE STILL BURNING, +THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS RESULTED IN DEATHS AND INJURIES.+
AS REGARDS ELECTRIC HEATERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE WERE SOMETIMES TURNED ON BLINDLY WITHOUT FIRST MAKING SURE THEY WERE WELL AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS.
ALSO, WIRES WERE OFTEN PLUGGED INTO ADAPTORS OPERATING OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, THUS RESULTING IN THE WIRING BECOMING OVERHEATED.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED THAT BEFORE TURNING ON A ROOM HEATER FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WINTER IT SHOULD BE GIVEN A THOROUGH INSPECTION TO ENSURE THAT IT IS CLEAN AND THAT ALL PLUGS, LEADS OR WICKS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION.
HE WARNED THAT DURING THE CURRENT DRY WEATHER, THERE IS A TWO TO FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN THE CHANCES OF FIRE.+
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