The number of house fires in Lawrence County last month has American Red Cross officials concerned about winter safety.

Monday, February 14, 2000

The number of house fires in Lawrence County last month has American Red Cross officials concerned about winter safety.

"We had seven and that’s a lot in our county for a month," said Annabelle Jenkins, county Red Cross coordinator.

Mrs. Jenkins, who coordinates relief for fire victims and their families, usually works about two or three house fires each month.

"I’m especially concerned that most of those last month were totally destroyed," she said. "Only one out of the seven was not."

A New Year’s Day fire claimed a home in Upper Township to start off the month. Fires followed in Perry, Rome and Elizabeth Townships. Lawrence Township logged two fires. Ironton responded to one fire, which did not totally destroy a house.

The fires left 14 people homeless, including children, Mrs. Jenkins said. Only three people have been able to move back into their home.

The Red Cross provided some emergency shelter, as well as clothing and other necessities to victims who lost everything, she said.

Still, the homeless families now face the task of rebuilding or finding another home, Mrs. Jenkins said.

Several of the fires were related to space heaters, kerosene heaters or electrical problems, she said.

"In winter, improper use of heaters can be a big problem for fire departments or us at Red Cross," Mrs. Jenkins said.

And, homeowners are often worried about pipes freezing in cold temperatures, she said.

"Leaving any heat source unattended under a house to thaw water lines is not recommended," she added.

One family in West Virginia, where Mrs. Jenkins also coordinates fire victim relief, started a fire in their home because they were using an open flame to thaw water pipes.

"They didn’t know but the flame went up into a wall and started a fire," she said. "Their neighbor called to tell them smoke was coming out their roof. They could hear the fire popping and cracking inside the walls but couldn’t find it. Ten minutes later, the mobile home was on the ground."

Hair dryers work best to thaw frozen pipes because there is no open flame and an overheated one shuts off automatically, Mrs. Jenkins said.

If a family owns a kerosene or electrical space heater, make sure everyone knows how to operate it properly, she said, adding that a kerosene heater should never be refueled while lit.

And, heaters should never be left unattended in a room, especially at night when everyone goes to bed, Mrs. Jenkins said.

"If it’s cold, just add more blankets to the bed," she said. "It’s better than trying to find another house."

If without electricity or natural gas, check with the utility company to see when service will be restored, Mrs. Jenkins said.

If it will be out for an extended period of time, notify the authorities, because there may be emergency shelters available, she said.

Other Red Cross tips homeowners can follow to reduce the risk of fire:

– Read safety instructions on heaters or find heaters with a low risk of starting fires.

– Never leave candles, potpourri pots or other devices with open flames unattended.

– Have chimneys, gas and electric heaters inspected before winter.

– Seal cracks along windows and doors, and close drapes at night to conserve heat.

– Make sure your home has smoke detectors and check with your local fire department about recommended fire extinguishers.