Macon Fire Department Holds Safety Demonstration

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As the cold weather continues throughout this winter, the Macon Fire Department wants you to be safe.

On Thursday afternoon, Fire Chief Marvin Riggins and Safety Fire Commissioner Talph Hudgens held a gathering to show the community how to be safe with heaters.

The demonstration covered both kerosene and electric space heaters.

Fire Safety Educator Demeterius Ellison said safety with heaters is important, and also stressed proper use of in-house smoke detectors.

“This working smoke detector is an excellent device to in a home,” said Ellison. “It will detect deadly concentrations of gases before it gets a chance to develop on you. All you have to remember is that you must place them in between bedrooms–one on each floor. And it doesn’t hurt to have more than one on each floor. The most excellent thing you need to remember about a smoke detector is to test them once a month, change the batteries two times a year. And if it’s chirping like a little bird, that means you need to change the battery immediately.”

Space heaters are popular heating tools to save money and keep your house warm, but they can be dangerous.

Chief Riggins stressed the importance of using the proper type cord when hooking the heater up to the power outlet.

For more information on fire safety and prevention, check out the Macon Fire Department Website.