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As Temps Tumble Number of House Fires Increases

As Temps Tumble Number of House Fires Increases - Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 10:22PM EST

When the temperature drops, the number of house fires usually goes up. And with sub-zero temperatures possible later this week, firefighters say precaution and common sense are key.

Kingston firefighter Eric Derr says in frigid temperatures people will try anything to keep their house warm. "We have seen people, elderly people especially, where they will actually turn a gas stove on, open up the gas stove. They're trying to stay warm and if the furnace isn’t giving enough heat they look to other measures,” he said.

Firefighters say hiking heat and loading chimneys can lead to disastrous and potentially fatal house fires. Last week an 84-year-old mother and her 52-year-old daughter died in a house fire in Wilburton.

Sunday in Dorrance Township a fire started in the chimney of a home causing a lot of damage. And it was a similar scene in Benton Township Sunday where a fire left an elderly woman homeless.

Fire experts say simple steps like checking your chimney to make sure it's not dirty or damaged is an easy way to prevent fires and possibly save lives. Also keep all items 5-to-6 feet from a space heater. “A space heater can be a very valuable asset to heating. It can also be dangerous. We ask people to use common sense,” says Derr.

He also credits the Red Cross for helping fire victims when all that’s left is the ashes. The Lackawanna County Chapter of the Red Cross says members have responded to near record number of fires this winter. Brian Writhtson told Eyewitness News, "In the last six days we’ve had 5 responses, 3 in a 24-hour period."
 


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