Strong winds and cold temperatures mean one thing for firefighters, potential fires. Butte Cal Fire Battalion Chief Marlene Heisey explained, "It can still start fires, we have the possibility of fires all year long."
Butte County Firefighters say it is the time of the year again, in which high winds, hail and lightning are capable of knocking down trees and power lines. Heisey told Action News, "High wind days, we do have a concern that the power lines could come down. Just always assume the power lines are energized. Stay away from them."
An even bigger concern for firefighters during the cold winter season are house fires. "We do start getting more fires caused by people just all of a sudden being cold and turning on the heater that they haven't used all year long," said Heisey. Firefighters say it is important for residents to be diligent and take extra care when it comes to indoor home heating. Heisey explained, "Anytime they use alternative heating sources, that they don't have other materials in their house that's flammable near that heating source."
Butte County firefighters add to never leave a portable or space heater unattended, and chimneys, stove pipes and furnaces should also be inspected every year. Lastly, install working smoke detectors. These are tips firefighters say save lives.
