A message from
Fire Chief Keith Larkin
Chief Larkin began his fire service career in 1974 as a seasonal firefighter with the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE). Over the last 33 years he has held assignments in 5 CAL FIRE Units throughout Northern California and worked his way up through the ranks to his current position as Unit Chief for CAL FIRE Fresno-Kings Unit and Fire Chief for Fresno County Fire Protection District. Prior to accepting his...[ read more ]
Home Heating Safety
With the cold weather finally among us, residence will be looking for many ways to keep warm. Here are a few safety tips that may save your life!
Carbon monoxide/Smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. This colorless, odorless, poisonous gas kills nearly 500 U.S. residents each year.
- Install battery-operated CO and smoke alarms in your home.
- Locate CO alarms outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.
- Locate smoke alarms on each level of the house and inside every bedroom.
- Replace smoke and CO alarm batteries when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall and check batteries monthly.
- If an alarm sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911.
- Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous.
Space heaters
- Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn-including furniture, blankets, curtains, and paper products.
- Choose space heaters that turn off automatically if they tip over.
- Never use a space heater to dry clothing.
- Turn off space heaters before you go to bed.
- In a kerosene heater, use only the proper fuel. Check with the local fire department to make sure kerosene heaters are allowed in your community.
- Refuel a heater outside, after it has cooled.
Fireplaces and wood stoves
- Have a service person inspect and clean your chimney or wood stove each year.
- Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to keep sparks from hitting nearby carpets or furniture.
- Keep air inlets on wood stoves open.
- Keep kindling, paper, and décor away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
- Never use gas or lighter fluid to start a fireplace or wood stove.
- Burn only seasoned hardwood. Burning soft, moist wood causes a lot of creosote build-up and can cause a chimney fire.
- Don't burn cardboard boxes, newspaper, or trash. They burn too hot and can cause a chimney fire.
- Be sure vent pipes extend at least 3 feet above the roof.
- Install stovepipe thermometers to check flue temperatures.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions for installing and maintaining fireplaces and wood stoves.
Charcoal grills
- Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
Alternative Heating Fire Facts
- More than one third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves, and other fuel-burning appliances to heat their homes.
- Nearly 36,000 fires and 250 deaths occur each year from portable heaters, fireplaces, and chimneys.
- Heating is the second leading cause of home fires.
- Fireplaces and chimneys are the number one source of home heating equipment fires.
- Portable space heaters are the top cause of fire deaths from home heating equipment.
The goal of our Early Detection Program is for every home to have at least one working smoke detector. If you are a resident of the Fresno County Fire Protection District and need a smoke detector please contact us at 559-493-4300.
