Winter is almost upon us and many will be relying on heaters to warm up their homes.
DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said different heating methods remain the leading causes of house fires, and firefighters are bracing for calls.
“Every winter we hear numerous stories of heater-related accidents, sometimes with tragic results. “Simple safety procedures can mitigate issues or challenges with indoor heating devices.
“Ranked as one of the leading causes of fires in homes, space heaters and braziers cause most fire-related deaths during winter months.
“These fires are likely to occur in the overnight hours between midnight and early morning hours before sunrise,” said Ntladi.
It’s important to remember to turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
DEMS would like to help put a freeze on winter fires and offer these simple steps to prevent these destructive fires:
• Keep anything that can burn at least a metre away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
• Have a metre “kid-free zone” around home fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional instal stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturer instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional every year before usage.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop embers from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
During winter, temperatures are very low, and in some instances, they register to sub-zero levels.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to be vigilant in the prevention of these destructive fires while keeping warm.
“DEMS is ready even in this difficult time of lockdown the country is experiencing.
“Together, we can achieve. Lives and properties can be saved,” said Ntladi.
In case of life-threatening emergencies, call the following numbers for the attention of emergency services and disaster management:
• Life-threatening Ekurhuleni emergency line: 011 458 0911
• National toll-free number: 10177
• Cellphone: 112
