With the recent spate of cold temperatures hovering in the single digits at night, fire safety tends to come to mind as people begin utilizing forms of keeping a house warm. According to Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy, there have been no fire calls centered around things like extension cords or space heaters, and the goal is to keep it that way. Among the things homeowners should do is if they haven’t already, make sure they are getting a yearly check on their furnace and make sure the house contains the right number of carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. People should also take steps if using a fireplace. “You should have that cleaned,” McCoy said. “Don’t forget to open the damper and don’t forget to store your ashes in a metal container. Don’t throw them in a trashcan.” If using a space heater, it’s recommended that you don’t have anything flammable within three feet and that the heaters should be plugged directly into the wall. Another step to take is to compartmentalize the home when sleeping at night. “It’s called close before you doze,” McCoy said. “We want to put a barrier between the fire and us. It could save your life.” The post Keep fire safety in mind during cold snaps appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.