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CORTLANDT, N.Y. Lake Mohegan Fire Chief Brian Wolert said using chimneys, portable heaters and boilers safely, along with a practiced evacuation plan, is the best way to avoid winter tragedy.
Wolert said the most common fires in the region are chimney fires.
"People must have their chimneys cleaned and inspected, he said. Not only do we have the chimney fires, but we have the portable heaters that are not used safely or correctly.
Fireplace safety is important as well, he said, including disposing of embers in metal containers and having tight fitting fireplace shutters.
Other common winter fires involve people attempting to heat their homes with gas stoves or ovens, fire officials said. Stoves can also quickly increase the level of carbon monoxide in the room.
For people who have young children, care for elderly parents or have large homes, planning an evacuation route is especially important, officials said. Lake Mohegan Fire Department, for example, does community outreach for young children where a firefighter dresses in full gear to teach children not to be scared.
During fires, officials said, children could become scared and try to hide underneath their bed or in a closet.
I have one of my people gear up and go on full air, so they know what it looks like and sounds like," Wolert said. "And actually theyre their friends and they shouldnt hide from them.
Some elderly also have special needs when evacuating a home. Wolert used the example of his elderly father-in-law, who can no longer hear the fire alarm. Instead, he has a strobe to signify an alarm.
If theyre wheelchair bound that would cut down your ways of egress immensely, he said.
The most important part of an evacuation plan is practice, he said, and a meeting place outside the home. Wolert advises quarterly practice and that families also do test runs at night. He says waking children up to practice is not a bad idea, since doing a drill only when its convenient is not the best way to prepare. People with second story windows may want to invest in a ladder, in the event that exits are blocked.
Other dangers can come from heaters that people may not know have been recalled. The Consumer Product Safety Commission compiled a list five different heaters, which have been recalled since December 2010. New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control also keeps a list of products that have not met federal standards or have recently been recalled, including everything from childrens pajamas to gas grills.
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