Woodstock fire chief urges Upper Valley residents to put fire safety at their top of the Christmas to-do list

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By Shawn Merrithew

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The raging flames of a contolled blaze reaching into the blue November sky Sunday morning in Jackson Falls served as a stark reminder to area residents about the danger of fire as another Christmas approaches.

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PHOTO BY SHAWN MERRITHEW

Fire blazes from the remains of a vacant home in Jackson Falls on Sunday morning. Woodstock Fire Department, along with North Lake and Canterbury fire departments, used the controlled burn as a training exercise.

With the winter months upon the region and many area residents using wood to heat their homes, Woodstock Fire Chief Ricky Nicholson warns people to put safety first. And that means keeping chimney and flues cleaned before burning wood.

"It is that time of the year for flue fires," said Nicholson. "I would recommend to homeowners to have their flue checked at least once a year. But, if you burn a lot of wood, you should have it done monthly."

The Woodstock fire chief also suggests residents check to ensure their smoke detectors are working properly and batteries are changed regularly.

With wood, oil and propane furnaces, Chief Nicholson said, he highly recommends a carbon monoxide detector, which should be located near the bedrooms.

"That way you are detecting gas if it is leaking, and you can alert the family quickly to get out."

In addition, he said, people should have a family safety plan in place to get out quickly in case of a fire.

Over the Christmas season, Chief Nicholson added, residents must pay extra attention to their homes. In the excitement of the season, he said, people cannot overlook fire risks, when, in fact, they should be even more diligent.

Dry trees, overloaded outlets and unattended candles pose a threat which can lead to a raging inferno, much like Sunday morning's blaze.

Nicholson suggests watering Christmas trees on a regular basis, never leaving candles unattended and always unplugging Christmas lights when leaving the house.

Nicholson pointed out fire safety begins at home, and, just using a little extra caution and care during the winter months and the rest of the year, residents can protect their homes and prevent fires from occurring.

"Fire safety is year round, not just once a week," Chief Nicholson added.