Space heaters are often viewed as a way to cut down on the heating bill and ad warmth to any room.
But some users of these heaters are oblivious to the dangers that may loom if they aren’t used properly.
E.S.C.A.P.E.‘s founder / president and former president of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association and 20 year fire safety veteran Michael McLeieer, tells WBKB 11 in Alpena why space heaters should be used sparingly.
“If space heaters are used as a primary heating source that puts our family at risk because those space heaters can overload, or if those space heaters are left on when we’re not at home, a fire could occur.”
Nearly two thirds of winter house fires are caused by heating homes improperly.
Here are McLeieer’s tips to ensure your space heater is not a fire safety hazard.
“Space heaters need space, they need at least three feet of space from anything that can catch fire, that could be clothing, that could be our furniture, and as we have now the winter weather before us, we want to make sure that people aren’t putting gloves or things like that to dry on the space heater because that’s a way that could catch those items on fire.”
Space heaters should never be left unattended under any circumstance.
As the temperatures drop, people tend to resort to using space heaters and other methods to heat their homes and businesses, but they need to play it safe and prevent a home fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Michael McLeieer, president and founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. spoke with WLNS TV 6, FOX 17 TV, WBKB TV and WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 radio this week and shared some simple but important tips and resources to prevent a home fire and increase your chances of surviving a fire should it occur.
WLNS TV 6:
FOX 17 TV:
WKZO Radio:
WBKB TV (Alpena, MI):
Here are a couple of links to some free resources and tips to prevent winter home fires from the National Fire Protection Association
and United States Fire Administration
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/media/social_toolkits/toolkit_heating.html
Firefighter Michael McLeieer, president and founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. talks with WLNS 6 News anchor Chivon Kloepfer about the Fire Prevention Week theme for 2021 and ways you and your family can prevent a home fire and stay safe!
It’s #FirePreventionWeek! This year’s theme is Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety! ™ E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. president and founder firefighter Michael McLeieer talks to Ken Lanphear on the WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 Morning Show about this year’s theme and steps you and your family can take to prevent a home fire and stay safe.
Here is a link to the live interview on Monday October 4, 2021 at 6:50 a.m.:
The next stop of the day was in Grand Rapids on eightWest at WOOD TV 8 at the downtown Media Art Center Studio inside the Grand Rapids Art Museum at Rosa Park Circle.
Here is the link to that broadcast:
10/04/2021 – WLNS 6 News – Sunday, October 3rd kicks off the start of Fire Prevention Week with experts focusing on reminding people to have working smoke alarms at home. A beeping smoke alarm in the middle of the night might be tempting to pull out the battery to make it stop. But Fire Inspector Michael Roberts with Delta Township Fire Department says don’t do it.
“It’s still very concerning how many times we have a smoke alarm issue or we have a fire and there are still not working smoke alarms in a home,” he said.
He said that people often just forget to install smoke alarms or replace the batteries. Roberts has some advice on where to place your smoke detector.
“…away from the wall, away from the exhaust fans, ductwork, ceiling fans. So that they can detect smoke the quickest, ” he said, “we personally like them up in the ceiling”.
Delta Township Fire Department recommends changing your smoke detector batteries every six months. A good rule of thumb is when you change your clocks during your daylight savings time you should also change the batteries on your smoke detectors.
But fire prevention week isn’t just a reminder to check your smoke detectors, it’s also about making sure you’re doing your part to keep firefighters safe.
“The number two cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States is vehicle accidents. And so we want to come out and make sure that everybody understands that what we do is dangerous, even when we are driving to emergencies, trying to get to people who are asking for our help,” Roberts said.
Fire safety expert Michael McLeieer says distractions like phones or loud music can keep drivers from noticing fire trucks on the road until it’s too late.
“Part of the problem today is that our vehicles today are much better insulated than what they ever used to be. And if we have a stereo on, we have the air conditioner on, or what have you, we might not necessarily hear that emergency sirens or see those flashing lights,” he said.
Roberts said first responders are more likely to get into a crash on the way to a scene. He hopes drivers remember a simple tip.
“Pull over to the right. Let that emergency traffic go by so that we can keep the community safe and you can help keep us safe,” he said.
Fire Prevention Week 2021 Contest
Fire Prevention Week 2021 is October 3 – 9 and we have a fun way to celebrate together!
Post a photo or video of your favorite fire safety action or slogan now through October 9th to Jake The Fire Dog’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and use #MISAFE as the hashtag. Examples include drawing a slogan (Get Out and Stay Out, Know Two Ways Out of Every Room, Close your bedroom door before you go to sleep) or posting a photo of your family drawing and practicing your home escape plan, going outside to the meeting place…a tree, a neighbor’s house, a sidewalk, or your outside safe meeting spot) or creating your own message that will encourage others to take proactive steps to prevent a home fire and stay safe!
Here is a free template to download and draw your home fire escape map! Home Escape Map WOTV
We will select a few entries and award fun prizes to the winners!
Hurry, the contest ends on October 9th!
Maranda from WOOD TV 8 and WOTV4Women was joined by many of her friends live from the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Wedgwood Christian Services, John Ball Zoo and E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire & Safety all came to take part in Maranda’s Art Prize fun.
