RALEIGH -- Temperatures in North Carolina are expected to dip this weekend and with the cooler temperatures, the risk for fire goes up when furnaces or fireplaces are turned on for the first time.
As a result, officials with the Office of the State Fire Marshal are urging all North Carolinians to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in working order, a practice which can save lives.
This month, 11 people in North Carolina were killed in house fires, with some of the fatalities due to improperly working alarms.
In addition to working smoke alarms, the OSFM encourages families to have an escape plan. That is, every family member should know two ways to get out of a room and to have a meeting place outside.
Perhaps just as important as a working smoke alarm is a working carbon monoxide alarm, which can alert residents of a malfunctioning or improperly ventilated furnace or other heating appliance. Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see, taste or smell and when inhaled, it can be fatal. Carbon monoxide monitors should be installed outside of each sleeping area in a house.
For more information on how to escape injury and prevent house fires, visit nfpa.org, contact your local fire department or the Office of State Fire Marshal at 1-800-634-7854.