Winter fire safety urged

Sgt. Rick Colbert, fire marshal for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, is happy to find they are setting a good example in the break room at DPS Headquarters by not using extension cords or power strips for kitchen appliances. Scott Welton, Staff

SIKESTON -- When it comes to keeping the home safe from fire hazards, it is often the little things that matter.

Things like space heaters, wax warmers and kitchen counter appliances are often the cause of big fires, according to Sgt. Rick Colbert, fire marshal for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

"This winter if they are going to be using space heaters of some sort, they need to make sure there is a 36-inch clearance in every direction," Colbert said.

Space heaters are still a major concern when it come to preventing home fires, he said.

"They should not be your primary heat source," Colbert said.

Space heaters should only be used when someone is in the room with the heater, he said, "and don't leave it on and leave the room or go to sleep."

Another common cause of fires is faulty products.

"The Consumer Products Safety Commission has daily product recalls not only for space heaters, but other appliances you might have in your home," Colbert said. "A lot of the recalls are due to fire hazards."

Thursday's list, for example, included a small electric wax warmer offered by a chain dollar store recalled for fire and burn hazards, he said.

While Colbert opts to subscribe for notifications, recalled products can also be viewed by visiting the website at cpsc.gov/en/Recalls, he said.

Another major concern for the fire marshal is extension cords.

For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log on to the electronic edition.