Fire-hazardous season: warming up safely
According to statistics, fires caused by faulty or improperly operated stoves occur almost daily during the autumn-winter period. For example, this year, 112 fires occurred due to violations of stove operation rules (compared to 113 in the same period in 2021). As a rule, in residential buildings, the majority of fires occur during the heating season. Stories of homeowners heating their stoves and then becoming living torches themselves are not uncommon.
For example, on October 25 at 22:15, a report was received about the hospitalization of a female citizen born in 1956, a pensioner, and a male citizen born in 1966, due to carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from the premature closing of the chimney damper of a stove in a residential building in the village of Sinyavka, Kletsk district, Minsk region, on Kolkhoznaya Street.
But more often, the houses themselves become "torches."
Friday evening was not easy for Glubokoe rescuers. On January 15 at 18:58, the dispatcher of the Glubokoe District Department for Emergency Situations received a report about a house fire on Sadovaya Street in the village of Proshkovo. Units of the Glubokoe District Department of Emergency Situations, Shcharkovshchina District Department of Emergency Situations, and Miory District Department of Emergency Situations immediately responded to the call. Upon arrival of the Ministry of Emergency Situations units, the house was completely engulfed in flames, and the roof of the house had collapsed. At the time of the fire, the owner and her son, who had come to visit his mother, were in the house. Upon entering the house, Ministry of Emergency Situations employees found the owner of the house without signs of life in one of the rooms. After some time, rescuers found her deceased son in the bathroom. The owner, born in 1960, a pensioner, lived alone. According to neighbors, she was characterized satisfactorily and was not registered. The owner's son, born in 1986, lived in the village of Proshkovo, Glubokoe district. According to neighbors, he was characterized satisfactorily and was not registered. As a result of the fire, the roof was completely destroyed, and the ceiling, walls, and property were damaged. The causes of the fire were violations of the rules for operating stoves, heat-generating units, and devices.
The main fire safety requirements that citizens must observe to prevent fires when operating stoves are regulated by fire safety rules:
1. It is not allowed to operate a faulty stove! The stove must be properly built and in good working order – this is paramount!
2. The chimney of the stove must be periodically cleaned of soot (depending on operating conditions), but at least once a year. Cleaning can be carried out either independently by the owner of the residential building where the stove is located, or with the involvement of specialized organizations.
When operating stoves, it is not allowed:
– to fire the stove if the arch of the firebox has collapsed;
– to use flammable and combustible liquids (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and similar) for kindling;
– to fire the stove with open doors, except when the stove design provides for firing with an open firebox (for example, a "Russian stove," fireplace);
– to overheat it;
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IMPORTANT! |
Overheating of a stove is a condition where the stove body and chimney (masonry, bricks) are damaged due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures during firing. The reason lies in the high intensity and duration of stove firing. |
– to place combustible substances and materials on it or at a distance that could lead to their ignition;
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IMPORTANT! |
The safe distance depends on the surface temperature of the stove and the type of combustible substances and materials. It is recommended to maintain a distance of at least 10 centimeters from the stove surface, and at least 100 centimeters from the firebox opening. |
– to fire the stove with coal, coke, and gas if it is not designed for these types of fuel;
– to leave a burning stove unattended.
Also, the stove, the surfaces of the chimney and walls through which smoke channels pass, must be in good condition, without through cracks, and to detect cracks in the chimney in the attic space at an early stage – they must be plastered and whitewashed. Annually, before the heating season, it is necessary to visually check the serviceability of the stove, chimney (channels).
Ash, coals, and slag removed from the stove must be poured with water until they are completely extinguished.
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IMPORTANT! |
Do not close the chimney dampers of the stove until the fuel is completely burned or the coals (ash) are removed from the firebox. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. |
Take care of the safety of elderly parents. Often, stove fires occur in homes where elderly people live. And the reason for this is not only violations of fire safety rules and carelessness due to poor eyesight and memory. Due to their age, elderly owners cannot whitewash the stove, climb under the ceiling and seal cracks in the chimney, clean it, and only their children can take care of them, who do not always find time to come and help. If your parents live in the countryside, take care of their safety: help them put the stove in order and install autonomous fire detectors in living rooms.