With colder weather closing in, before you turn on the furnace there are a few steps you should take.
Deputy Fire Chief Don McCabe for the Moncton Fire Department says those unexpectedly cold days prompt people to turn on space heaters or baseboard heaters.
He says if you’re turning heaters on for the first time you should make sure there’s no dust on them that could burn.
“You should make that if you’re using your wood stove, or you’re pellet stove, or your propane fireplace that all the areas around it are clear from maybe clothes, or some of your summer stuff was left around them,” says McCabe.
He adds there’s no substitute for professional help.
“You’re wood stoves and pellet stove flues should be cleaned by a professional, they are wet certified and a professional should look at it and get it cleaned,” says McCabe.
He says looking to the future, last winter there were many problems of natural gas lines and meters being inaccessible because of the volume of snow.
McCabe says the homeowner is responsible for keeping that access clear which greatly helps firefighters in the event of a fire.
He also encourages people to clear all pathways and basement windows to allow quick entrance and exit if necessary as well.
