Beaumont chief urges residents to test smoke detectors, keep space heaters 3 feet away

Chief Earl White, identified in the meeting as "Chief," urged Beaumont residents to maintain smoke detectors, keep space heaters at least 3 feet (36 inches) from combustibles and avoid using ovens to heat homes as winter weather approaches.

White said winter months bring an "increase in house fires," and emphasized basic precautions: "smoke detectors save lives." He told homeowners the city offers free smoke detectors to residents who own their homes and added that having a detector is only part of prevention.

"Detector should be tested at least once a month and the battery changed once a year," White said. He described space-heater safety in specific terms: "Give them space. Minimum of 3 feet or 36 inches. If it's a gas space heater, make sure it's burning correctly. Nice blue flame." He also recommended turning electric heaters off when leaving a room despite tip-over safety features.

White cautioned against warming homes with a cooking appliance, saying, "Don't ever heat your home with your oven. Ovens are exactly for cooking. And as you can see here, that's a gas example of a gas stove and gas puts off what? Carbon monoxide, the silent killer." He urged residents without carbon-monoxide detectors to obtain one and noted combination smoke/carbon-monoxide units are available at local hardware stores.

The remarks were presented as public-safety guidance; no formal action or vote was recorded during this portion of the meeting.