As colder weather settles into the region, the Fentress County Fire Department has issued a comprehensive winter safety reminder to help residents prevent residential fires, chimney blazes, and carbon monoxide emergencies.

Local officials emphasize that seasonal heating equipment—including wood stoves, coal burners, and portable propane or kerosene units—requires careful maintenance to operate safely. To minimize risks, the department urges homeowners to have chimneys inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified professional, burn only properly seasoned wood or coal, and maintain a strict clearance zone of at least three feet around all heating appliances. Furthermore, residents are reminded to dispose of ashes exclusively in covered metal containers outdoors and to avoid operating portable heaters while sleeping or unattended.

Beyond heating precautions, the department highlights the critical role of functional life-safety devices. Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors provide essential early warnings against invisible hazards like carbon monoxide, which is odorless and tasteless.

To ensure community-wide protection, the Fentress County Fire Department is offering assistance to local residents who lack working smoke alarms, providing units while supplies last. Officials also encourage residents to check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable family members as temperatures continue to fall. Anyone experiencing a heating emergency or suspecting a gas leak is urged to evacuate immediately and dial 911.