SNOHOMISH — When fire, police and relief officials meet with concerned Snohomish residents tonight to discuss last week’s fatal mobile home fire, they also plan on talking about a variety of fire safety issues, including home heating.
Turning up the thermostat can increase fire risk, experts say.
In 2007, nearly 100 fires in Snohomish County were blamed on home heating problems. Losses totalled more than $245,000, state fire officials said.
As temperatures cool, people soon will be firing up wood stoves, turning on furnaces and plugging in space heaters for the first time this season.
“It is that time of the year,” Snohomish Fire Deputy Chief Ron Simmons said.
The wobbly economy also may spark unsafe efforts to save money on heating costs, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted by the Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association.
As many as 80 percent of Americans surveyed said they are concerned about the rising cost of heating homes this year. Nearly half of the people said they plan to use alternative heating sources to cut down energy costs, including portable space heaters, stoves, ovens and fireplaces.
A third of people with fireplaces said they never cleaned or inspected their chimneys, the survey found.
The numbers are concerning to fire safety officials.
Before using a wood stove or fireplace, have the flu or chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional, Simmons said.
“That’s got to be a mandatory,” he said.
Electric heating systems can accumulate dust during the summer months. The debris can ignite when the systems are started, he said. Make sure everything is cleaned properly before turning thermostats up.
If something isn’t working right, have it looked at by a professional.
“We can reduce the number of home heating fires in our community by taking some simple precautions and using heating equipment properly,” State Fire Marshal Michael Matlick said.
Last year, there were 1,961 reported fires in the county, resulting in more than $15 million damage, according to state statistics.
About 5 percent of those were started by problems in home heaters.
Investigators still are looking into the cause of the fire that killed the Snohomish family on Sept. 30, Snohomish Police Chief John Turner said Tuesday.
The Snohomish fire is considered suspicious. A specially-trained dog detected signs of a flammable accelerant at the scene, but it is too early to know whether the blaze was deliberately set, officials said. No smoke detector has been found.
On Monday, a cigarette likely sparked an early morning blaze at an RV Park along Highway 99 in south Everett. A man was hospitalized for smoke inhalation in that fire.
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Community meeting and funeral planned
A funeral for the Montaño family, killed last week in a mobile home fire, is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1512 Pine Ave., Snohomish.
A community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at the church, when officials plan to answer questions about the fire and share safety tips. A rosary service for the victims also is set to take place at 6:30 p.m. tonight, just prior to the meeting. Counselors are expected to attend.
For more information, call the church at 360-568-0821.
Seven fire-safety tips
Last year, nearly 100 fires in Snohomish County were blamed on heating systems. Fire safety officials say it’s important to keep these tips in mind before turning on heaters.
n Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment.
n Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
n Have chimney and flus inspected each year and cleaned if necessary.
n Use a sturdy fireplace screen. Allow ashes to cool before disposing and dispose in a metal container.
n Install smoke alarms, test them monthly and replace batteries twice a year.
n Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm.
n Never use an oven to heat your home.
Source: Washington state fire marshal
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