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Practice safety, stay warm as temperature drops in region

By Staff 4 min read
article image - Zach Petroff
Chris McLee, of Uniontown, shovels the snow in front of the VFW Post 3514 building in Uniontown. McLee is the manager of the post.

As the temperatures plummet in Southwestern Pennsylvania this week, local first responders and experts offer tips for staying warm and safe.

Heating equipment is a big fire culprit in the winter months, with human error often resulting in home heating fires.

South Strabane Township fire Chief Jordan Cramer offered various tips to people using space heaters trying to keep their dwellings warm.

“A couple of the big things are just keeping items away from space heathers. We understand people often have to use them, but don’t keep anything around them,” Cramer said, adding that objects should be three or four feet away from the units.

He added that people should only plug one space heater into an outlet at a time and advised against using extension cords or surge protectors to connect them.

“They tend to draw a lot of power and tend to heat those items up and can cause a fire,” Cramer said.

In addition, Cramer said people should make sure they have working carbon monoxide detectors because heating sources could put out the invisible and odorless poisonous gas into a home.

“You cannot smell it, so you need some sort of device to tell you when something is wrong,” Cramer said. “If people are unsure of anything, call their fire department. We are always happy to come out and consult with them. If they’re unsure, we can come out and give our best advice.”

Columbia Gas also offered a number of safety tips as the thermometer dips below zero.

The utility said people should be sure to clear snow and ice from intake and exhaust vents to help avoid carbon monoxide buildup and operational issues with their appliances.

Space heaters should be used with caution, and placed on a hard, level surface away from anything flammable such as bedding, drapes, curtains or rugs.

All appliances and heating equipment – such as a furnace, water heater or stove – should be inspected to ensure they’re operating properly and within the manufacturer’s instructions.

A stove or oven should never be used as a source of heat, especially since ovens are designed to heat food, and should only be operated with the door closed. The utility also said people should not burn charcoal or run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space. Finally, the chimney should be cleaned and checked for blockage at least once a year before using your fireplace.

National Weather Service Pittsburgh advises homeowners to wrap or drain water pipes, or allow them to drip slowly, to prevent them from freezing.

Community help

Debbie Doppelheuer, director of operation for City Mission in Fayette County, said the combination of the rising cost of housing and the recent frigid winter weather has had both the men and women’s shelters at full capacity.

“We’ve been running consistently full since the weather has turned,” Doppelheuer said. “We have a running list of people who we’ll call back once we get a bed open.”

Even at full capacity, Doppelheuer said City Mission will not turn people away and will work with other agencies, nonprofits and even local businesses to find a solution.

“Our goal is to be a problem solver and if we can’t help a person that comes to us, we’ll refer them to somewhere else,” Doppelheuer said. “We’re not going to say, ‘Oh, we’re full, come back later.’ We will stay with them and try to figure it out. We don’t want them on the streets, especially in this weather.”

Along with housing, Doppelheuer said the mission also provides clothing to their clients.

“Oftentimes our clients come to us with inadequate clothing; we have a storage facility to provide winter clothing,” she said.

The mission center in Uniontown is currently able to provide beds to 25 to 27 men and 12 women along with an emergency apartment that can accommodate four.

In Connellsville, the senior center at 100 E. Fayette St. will be open all day and night to help those who need a warm place to go.

The city’s auxiliary police volunteers will be at the center at 7 p.m. Tuesday and 8 p.m. Wednesday. If no one comes to stay, the volunteers will close the center for the evening.

Staff writers Karen Mansfield and Zach Petroff contributed to this story.

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