Protect Your Home in the Winter
Adhere to the following tips to ensure that your home is safe for the winter months:

• Have your furnace checked for winter operation.
• Have your fireplace flue or wood stove flue cleaned when creosote builds up to one-eighth of an inch.
• Give space heaters a 36-inch empty space between the heater and anything else, especially combustible things like furniture, drapes, papers and people.
• Never use an extension cord with a portable heater because it is a common cause of fires.
• Check cords on appliances and lamps.
• Replace frayed or cracked cords. If the cord gets hot, have the appliance checked out.
• Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home if fossil fuels (wood, natural gas etc.) are used for heating (furnace, water heater, fireplace, etc.).
• Store flammable liquids in approved safety containers. Flammable vapors are produced at cool temperatures and can be ignited easily.
• Make and practice a home escape plan with your family. Knowing what to do if a fire occurs can save your life and the lives of your family. Know two ways out of each living space (living room, kitchen, family room, bedrooms, etc.) and have a meeting place outside.

For more tips, please call The Woodlands Fire Department at 281-367-3444.