Forecasts of temperatures falling well below zero during the coming week present significant safety issues – even if you’re not out on the road.
• Be on alert for buildups of carbon monoxide, an odorless poison byproduct of natural gas appliances; levels of CO can get especially high in frigid weather when furnaces are constantly running.
• Kerosene and electric space heaters should be kept well away from flammables, particularly fabrics, which can ignite and become a major cause of house fires.
• Keep your water meter and any inside water lines from freezing; line breaks from frozen pipes can cause tremendous damage.
• Clear snow from nearby fire hydrants. The minutes it takes firefighters to excavate a hydrant in front of your house is extra time for a fire in your home to burn freely.