Firefighters provide electrical fire prevention safety tips

ALBANY, Ga. – With the holiday season in full swing, it’s also the start of the busiest stretch of the year for Albany firefighters. And, we spoke with the fire department about making sure you don’t feel the burn this December.

Assistant Fire Chief, Marcus Glass says it’s all hands on deck for the fire department…

As the holiday season and colder temps means the risk for fires increases.

“Here’s the deal: a lot, half of our home fires are started in the month(s) of winter, which is December, January and February,” Assistant Chief Marcus Glass, Albany Fire Dept. (AFD).

With the holiday season and a variety of electrical and heating appliances being used, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

“So, we want to make sure that if we’re using any kind of electrical appliances or as far as heaters, we keep things three feet away from them. We want to also make sure not only that; we’re plugging those electrical appliances directly into a power source…” said Asst. Chief Glass.

And, with those colder nights coming over the next couple of months, checking a couple of things could prevent an electrical fire.

“Make sure that you are keeping things where they need to be as far as electrical heaters, not so close to the bed. Make sure we don’t leave them on. When we leave out of the room, we turn them off. We make sure that we are recognizing that in the winter months we are doing things that are different. So, we need to make sure that we have a different mind frame,” said Asst. Chief Glass.

More than anything, the Albany Fire Department is stressing one last thing not just for the holidays, but for the winter months.

“So, we’ve got to be vigilant and making sure that we don’t cause unnecessary damage,” said Asst. Chief Glass.

And, according to the National Fire Protection Association, one in six house fires in the winter is caused by an electrical fire.

Brian Roche reporting.

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