Charles County Volunteer Fire & EMS - Charles County, Maryland

Upcoming Events
Apr 02, 2024
CCVFA/CCAEMS Executive Meeting

Apr 08, 2024
CCAEMS Monthly Meeting

Apr 15, 2024
County Chief's Meeting

Apr 18, 2024
Board of Fire Rescue Commission

Apr 27, 2024 - Apr 28, 2024
Southern MD Volunteer Firemen's Association Convention

May 13, 2024
CCVFA Monthly Meeting

View All Events

2024 Stats
Month Fire EMS
Jan 895 1689
Feb 778 1525
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total 1673 3214

2023 Stats
Month Fire EMS
Jan 728 1520
Feb 716 1484
Mar 785 1465
Apr 923 1434
May 872 1616
Jun 865 1524
Jul 972 1680
Aug 859 1628
Sep 891 1556
Oct 837 1652
Nov 713 1495
Dec 917 1639
Total 10078 18693

2022 Stats
Month Fire EMS
Jan 1120 1758
Feb 697 1325
Mar 775 1463
Apr 787 1454
May 945 1644
Jun 923 1517
Jul 952 1522
Aug 891 1661
Sep 811 1519
Oct 928 1527
Nov 870 1521
Dec 885 1574

2021 Stats
Month Fire EMS
Jan 677 1504
Feb 549 1433
Mar 813 1483
Apr 777 1462
May 908 1461
Jun 871 1518
Jul 922 1685
Aug 957 1605
Sep 864 1608
Oct 927 1543
Nov 768 1369
Dec 830 1694
Total 9863 18365

2020 Stats
Month Fire EMS
Jan 723 1432
Feb 652 1347
Mar 720 1442
Apr 657 1267
May 709 1266
Jun 701 1318
Jul 1006 1429
Aug 969 1390
Sep 793 1386
Oct 778 1402
Nov 721 1294
Dec 730 1417
Total 9159 16390


Web Counters
Website Visitors
Since
July 20, 2018
3,399,360
Visitors Today
Mar 29, 2024
462
Winter Fires: Safety Tips for Home Heating
Email Print RSS Facebook Twitter RSS

By Coordinator William Smith
February 13, 2015

With cold weather upon us, it is a good time for your volunteer fire service to remind everyone of some simple steps to help prevent a heating related fire in your home.

The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are burning wood and manmade logs.

All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are, however, a major contributing factor in residential fires. Many of these fires can be prevented. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter.

Kerosene Heaters
• Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in the event the heater is tipped over.
• Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane, for example) can produce deadly fumes.
• Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. NEVER introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type fuel.
• Keep kerosene, or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas, outside of the house.
• NEVER fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling. DO NOT use cold fuel for it may expand in the tank as it warms up.
• Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). Keep children, pets and clothing away from heaters.
• When using a fuel burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide.

Wood stoves and fireplaces are becoming a very common heat source in homes. Careful attention to safety can minimize fire hazards.

To use them safely:
• Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (36 inches) from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection.
• Wood stoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be UL listed.
• Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.
• Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from escaping, unwanted material from going in, and to help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.
• The stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup.
• Don't use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite these materials.
• Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.
• If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package. NEVER break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.


Add a Comment Add a Comment 0 Comment(s)




Website Designed and Hosted By: Content Proudly Maintained By: Contact Info:
Firehouse Solutions
www.FirehouseSolutions.com
Charles County Volunteer Fire & EMS
109 LaGrange Avenue
La Plata, Maryland 20646
Emergency Dial 911
Non-Emergency: 301-934-3581
E-mail: info@ccvfireems.org
Copyright © 2024 Firehouse Solutions (A Service of Technology Reflections, Inc.)