By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
As the fall season approaches, Northfield Area Fire Chief Tom Nelson is sharing an important reminder to the community:
“Turn on your furnace before it gets cold. And if there’s anything wonky, make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors at home. Get it checked out.” – Tom Nelson, Northfield Area Fire Chief on KYMN In The Morning
Nelson compared testing your furnace to preparing other items for winter like testing your snowblower before the first snowfall.
According to data from the US Fire Administration, the second leading cause of house fires is a problem with a furnace or heater.
The items to check were a shortlist, with Nelson stating mainly to see if future repairs would be needed. He also stated that while checking the furnace, to replace the furnace filter as well:
Listen to the News:
“And if you haven’t had it gone through, check your furnace filters. Those are all the things that can be hazardous if there’s a fire. So get that stuff running beforehand so that if you need to get it checked out, do that.” – Tom Nelson, Northfield Area Fire Chief on KYMN In The Morning
With the beginning of fall, Nelson also reminded everyone to check the batteries in their smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms. Stating that not only are they helpful tools to alert to a problem, but to avoid the dread 3 am alarm because a battery died. Nelson noted that every CO2 alarm is set to go off when it expires in 10 years:
“So do that little inventory, It’s like, where did that one that we got for Christmas 11 years ago, go? Because those will go off at 10 years, and they will let you know and it will be at 2:00 in the morning and then you’ll be awake and mad. And if you can’t find it, we’ll call up and have to come help you.” – Fire Chief Tom Nelson on the KYMN Morning Show
The Fire Department is offering opportunities for the whole family to learn more about fire prevention and safety at its annual open house on Thursday, October 9th, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Among the activities will be a car accident demonstration, training to use a fire extinguisher, and opportunities to see the fire department equipment up close, fire training demonstrations, and a helicopter fly-in.
“So please come out on Thursday, October 9th at 5pm, at the Fire Station…We’ll have the bridge closed off. Find a place to park somewhere downtown and walk up and hope for good weather.” – Tom Nelson, Northfield Area Fire Chief on KYMN In The Morning
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