Winter Weather Awareness Week: Day 3 – Winter Fire Safety

Winter is Minnesota’s peak season for home fires. Heating equipment, fireplaces, space heaters, and holiday decorations all create increased risk.

Today’s theme focuses on how to keep your home safe and warm.

🔥 Heating Safety

  • Keep all space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.

  • Never use ovens or grills to heat a home.

  • Plug space heaters directly into a wall, not power strips.

  • Have furnaces and chimneys professionally inspected each year.

🎄 Holiday Fire Safety

  • Water real trees daily.

  • Keep candles far from decorations.

  • Inspect cords and holiday lights.

🚨 Smoke & CO Alarms

  • Install alarms on every floor and in sleeping areas.

  • Replace batteries yearly.

  • Test alarms monthly.

  • Replace CO alarms every 5–7 years.

Where to Get Fire Safety Information

  • MN State Fire Marshal: dps.mn.gov

  • Minnesota HSEM Winter Safety

  • Todd County EM & local fire departments’ updates

Tomorrow’s theme: Indoor Air Quality (CO, Radon, Mold).