Winter fire safety
Updated: January 23, 2013
URBANA -- Fires are traditionally most common in the winter. And it's no different this year. In the past two weeks there have been three fires in Champaign and six in Decatur.
Urbana luckily hasn't had any during that span. The fire marshal there says keeping those numbers low starts with the home owner.
"More important than knowing what to do when a fire starts, I think it's more important to experience the only fire which doesn't burn which is a preventive fire," said Fire Marshal Phil Edwards.
Here are a few more tips Edwards says to follow these steps to prevent winter time fires:
1) Keep space heaters at least three feet from any object
2) Always use fireplace screen
3) Never leave candles burning unattended
4) Install smoke detectors
5) Never leave cooking unattended
Urbana luckily hasn't had any during that span. The fire marshal there says keeping those numbers low starts with the home owner.
"More important than knowing what to do when a fire starts, I think it's more important to experience the only fire which doesn't burn which is a preventive fire," said Fire Marshal Phil Edwards.
Here are a few more tips Edwards says to follow these steps to prevent winter time fires:
1) Keep space heaters at least three feet from any object
2) Always use fireplace screen
3) Never leave candles burning unattended
4) Install smoke detectors
5) Never leave cooking unattended
