It is very important that you stay safe during the colder months and utilize the following safety resources to keep you and your family safe.  Make sure your furnace has been inspected and serviced by a qualified professional during the last 12 months.  If you have a chimney in your home make sure the chimney and all vents are checked for creosote built-up.  This service needs to be done at least once a year.  The wood used for your fireplace or wood stove is dry, seasoned wood.  Your fireplace screen is metal or heat-tempered glass, in good condition and secure in its position in front of the fire place.  Have a covered metal container ready to use to dispose of cooled ashes.  The ash container should be kept at least 10 feet from the home and any nearby buildings.  Have a kid/pet free zone at least 3 feet away from the fireplace, wood/pellet stove, oil stove or other space heaters.  If you use portable space heaters make sure they have automatic shut-off and are UL Approved.  The portable space heaters will be plugged directly into an outlet not an extension cord and placed at least three feet from anything that can burn; like bedding, paper, walls, and even people.  Place notes throughout your home to remind you to turn off portable heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.  Test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working.  You need smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area.  For the best protection, the smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.  Also, check the date on your smoke detector to see if it needs to be replaced with a new one.  Test your carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are in good working order.  Carbon monoxide alarms should be located outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home.  If an alarm goes off evacuate your home, and call 911. 

We at the White Sands Missile Range Fire Department want you and your family to stay safe.  If you have any question please reach out to our Fire Prevention Branch at 575-678-3585 and as always if you have an emergency dial 911 or 575-678-1234.

Fire Chief Carlos Soto Jr.