Fire officials offer home-heat safety tips

BANGOR – The Bangor Fire Department offers the following fire safety tips to ensure safe home heating this season:

. If you heat with wood, clean the chimney of creosote and monitor the amount of creosote buildup throughout the heating season. The chimney should be cleaned if 1/4-inch or more of creosote builds up. The wood stove’s chimney connection also should be taken apart and cleaned.

. Hot ashes from wood stoves should be disposed of properly. Do not put hot ashes, even if they appear cool, in a paper bag, cardboard box or plastic container. Do not dispose of ash where it may cause fire, such as in dry grass, or under a wooden deck.

. Never use gasoline or other flammable liquid to start the fire in a wood-burning stove or furnace. Use kindling and paper to start the fire. Store kindling and paper away from the wood stove.

. If you install a wood stove in Bangor you will need a permit and a safety inspection from Bangor fire inspectors. The permit is available from the city code enforcement officer.

. Oil furnaces should be inspected by a licensed oil burner technician at least once a year. If the furnace shuts off and does not run, do not hit the reset button on the burner more than once. Hitting the reset button more than once can flood the burner and result in a fire.

. If you use space heaters, do not leave them unattended. Place the heater at least three feet from all combustibles, such as waste baskets, clothing and furniture.

. Make sure smoke detectors work. Take time to preview your escape plan.