NAHANT — The Nahant Fire Department is reminding residents to be cautious of the common causes of fall fires.
There are more than 45,000 home electrical fires each year and half of them are caused by lighting equipment or electrical wiring, according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
“By following these tips, our residents can help ensure that they stay both safe and warm during the heating season, and throughout the rest of the year,” said Fire Chief Michael Feinberg in a statement. “Electrical fires are a preventable problem, as long as everyone takes the necessary steps to ensure their electrical wiring and equipment are safe.”
To prevent these fires, Feinberg brought attention to safety tips from FEMA, including plugging heat-producing appliances such as coffee makers, space heaters, and microwaves, directly into a wall outlet. Unplug small appliances when they’re not being used.
Only one appliance should be plugged into a single wall outlet at any given time.
Extension cords should only be used temporarily, according to the statement. They should never be used to power heat-producing appliances.
Electrical work should only be performed by a licensed electrician. Cracked or damaged electrical cords should be replaced.
Residents should be careful not to overload extension cords, wall outlets, or power strips, and power strips should only be used if they have internal overload protection.
Avoid putting wires where they can be damaged or pinched, such as under a carpet or rug.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is the leading cause of home fire deaths.
The association recommends keeping anything that can burn at least three feet from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
It also recommends a three-foot kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters.
Residents should not use their ovens to heat their homes. Qualified professionals should be the only ones to install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment, according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
Residents with a fireplace should have their chimney inspected every year by a qualified professional.
Portable heaters should be turned off when leaving the room or going to bed. Only the fuel specified by the manufacturer should be used.
Sturdy screens should be used to stop sparks from flying into the room and ashes should cool before being transferred into a metal container. The containers should be kept a safe distance away from the home.
Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month. The association recommends changing the smoke alarm batteries at the end of Daylight Saving Time.
Additionally, families should be sure to have a fire escape plan for their home, and ensure the entire family is aware of the plan, said Feinberg in the statement. The plan should include a designated meeting place outside where everyone can safely reunite upon exiting during an emergency.