At UGI Energy Services, safety is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring the well-being of our customers and communities.

As we approach the end of winter, it's crucial to remain vigilant about fire safety. Whether at home or the workplace, please keep these fire prevention and response tips in mind.

The American Red Cross states that if a fire breaks out in your home, you may have only two minutes to escape. In the U.S., home fires occur approximately every 88 seconds. While knowing how to prevent these fires for your safety is vital, it is equally important to be prepared in the event a fire ignites.

Fire Prevention Tips

Did you know home fires occur more in winter than in any other season? Don’t become part of this statistic – prevent fires in your home with these tips.

Heating:

• Don't let your guard down as temperatures begin to rise. Continue to use space heaters safely and maintain your heating systems.
• Use space heaters carefully. Keep them away from flammable materials like curtains or bedding and turn them off before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Get your HVAC and furnace serviced regularly. This will help prevent fires and ensure your systems are running efficiently, saving you money on your energy bill.
• Clean and inspect fireplaces and chimneys annually. Poorly maintained fireplaces and dirty chimneys cause 30% of home heating fires.

Electrical:

• Always plug major appliances directly into wall outlets. Plugging large appliances like refrigerators, dryers, or stoves into extension cords can cause them to overheat quickly.
• Don’t overload outlets. If your circuit breaker trips frequently or outlet/switch covers are warm to the touch, your outlet is likely overloaded.
• Avoid using extension cords in areas where they can be damaged, such as under a carpet. If you notice any damage to extension cords, replace them right away.

Candles:

• Never leave candles unattended. Extinguish them before leaving a room, the house, or going to bed. (Remember: blow out before you go out!)
• Trim wicks to about ¼ inch. This helps keep the flame small and reduces smoke.
• Keep candles away from flammable items such as furniture, bedding, curtains, paper, tissues, etc.
• Use battery-operated candles. They provide the same vibe with no fire risk.
• Use daylight! As the days get longer, take advantage of natural light instead of candles when possible.

Kitchen:

• Don’t leave food unattendedwhile cooking. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.
• Don’t ignore a ‘rotten egg’ smell if you have natural gas If you notice that smell while cooking, there may be a gas leak. Immediately turn off your appliances and leave the area. Call 9-11 from a safe location.
• Keep flammable items away from the stovetop, such as potholders, hand towels, food packaging, and napkins.

Laundry:

• Clean your dryer’s lint trap before every use. Lint is so flammable, the National Park Service recommends using it as a fire starter!
• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is unblocked. If your dryer takes longer than usual to dry your clothes, the vent pipe may be blocked.
• Keep flammable items away from your dryer, such as boxes, cleaning supplies, piles of clothing, chemicals, gasoline, etc.

Preparation:

• Spring cleaning is around the corner. Now is an excellent time to review your fire escape plan and both inventory and check your fire safety equipment.
• Keep working fire extinguishers in high-risk areas such as the kitchen, near heat sources, the garage, and in bedrooms. It’s recommended that you have one on each floor of your home and that everyone knows how to use it.
• Test fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly. Ensure they’re on every level of your home.
• Don’t block exits with furniture or decorations. In the case of a fire, all paths outside should be clear.
• Make a fire escape plan. Practice the plan with anyone who lives in (or regularly stays at) your house. This worksheet provides instructions.
• Look out for burn bans. The air is dryer in the winter. Before lighting an outdoor fire, make sure there’s not a burn ban in effect in your area. Signs are usually posted when a burn ban is in effect. However, you can call your local fire department to confirm.

Fire Response Tips

Remember that fire safety is a year-round concern. Stay prepared as we transition from winter to spring. With only about two minutes to get out before a fire escalates, knowing how to respond to a fire is just as important as knowing how to prevent one. Remember these tips:

• Stay calm and act fast. Panicking will not help anything. Alert everyone in the house immediately and evacuate the house. Only call 9-11 when you’re in a safe location.
• If you see smoke, stay low. Smoke naturally rises, so staying lower to the ground will help you avoid breathing in toxic fumes. Smoke inhalation is the #1 cause of death for fires.
• Touch the door before exiting a room. If you’re in a closed room, such as your bedroom, when a fire starts, touch the door or doorknob before opening it. If it’s hot to the touch, the fire is likely outside your door. Don’t open it. Find an alternate way out, like a window.
• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll. Cover your face with your hands and continue rolling back and forth until the flames are out.
• Once you’re out, stay out. Never re-enter a burning building.

Looking for additional safety tips? Check out our blog!