Fire chief outlines winter fire-safety steps: heater placement, detectors, escape plans and holiday cautions

Fire Chief Jacob King used the city’s "Chief Chat" broadcast to give detailed winter fire-safety guidance for Springfield residents, covering space heaters, smoke detectors, escape plans, candle safety and clearing paths for emergency access.

"The biggest piece about space heaters is they definitely need space. So we're talking 3 feet 36 inches away from it. And you need the the ones that when they tip over, they shut off," King said. He advised residents to replace older space heaters with models that have tip-over automatic shutoffs and to plug heaters directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord or surge protector because of their high electrical draw.

King also emphasized smoke-detector maintenance: change detector batteries at least twice a year and use the time change as a reminder. "So everyone should have just recently changed their smoke detector batteries, as we roll those clocks backwards," he said, and urged families to practice a household escape plan and designate a meeting spot outside the home.

On holiday practices, King recommended LED candles instead of open flames, noting pets and decorations can quickly spread fires. He also advised clearing a path from front and back doors after snowfall so residents can exit safely and so emergency responders can access homes without delay.

At the close of the broadcast, King previewed upcoming tips on safe Christmas decorations and warned about frying turkeys: ensure birds are fully thawed before frying to avoid dangerous situations.