Be careful with outdoor burning and check your heating sources ahead of winter

October is Fire Prevention Month, and fire officials are reminding residents to have safety in mind as they enjoy fall activities.

“If you’re going to do fires, little campfires or bonfires, that kind of thing, make sure you’re always attending the fire,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “Make sure that you’re keeping your fire pits and things like that away from residences. You don’t want to put it too close. We tell people at least 15, 20 feet away from your buildings, any overhangs, anything like that.”

Check with your municipality on burning laws, and if you will be doing a large controlled burn alert your area fire department.

Crane says the fall season is a good time to make sure your heating sources are ready to operate properly ahead of winter.

“Maintain your fireplace, your wood stove,” Crane said. “Make sure you’re only burning clean, seasoned wood, not wet wood or green wood. Make sure that you’re checking the chimney and the stove pipes that they’re clean, there’s not a lot of creosote buildup. Get them serviced professionally periodically as well. The furnaces, change your filters. That’s probably the biggest thing on furnace maintenance is change those filters regularly.”

Crane also says with Halloween approaching, be sure your decorations are not a potential fire hazard. Keep entryways clear and decorations such as hay bales away from potential fire sources.

“Make sure in your decorative lighting, just like your Christmas lights, make sure the wiring is in good shape,” Crane said. “Make sure you’re not overloading any of your circuits. When you hook those lights together, how many strands can you hook together? Things like that. Don’t staple them to the side of your house because the staples could damage that wiring.”

Find more fire safety tips on the National Fire Protection Association’s website.