Be Safe With Winter Living

STAMFORD  - The Stamford Fire Department has responded to five fires over the first six weeks of the new year, two of them caused by using a salamander to defrost frozen pipes and another due to creosote buildup in the chimney.

"I think people need to be reminded about safety," said Stamford Fire Chief Don VanEtten. "Using something with an open flame to attempt to defrost frozen pipes is not safe." 

It is recommended to use something that applies gentle consistent heat, such as a hair dryer, heating pad or hot towels. You should make sure the faucet connected to the frozen pipe is open during the process to relieve pressure and allow the water to flow as the ice melts. Do not leave open faucets unattended, to prevent flooding.

Frozen pipes have been prevalent this winter with the subzero temperatures and even colder windchills.

Due to the cold weather, boilers and stoves have been running to the maximum, which creates overheating of boilers and malfunctions. Homeowners should check the chimney for creosote buildup if they are burning wood. Pellet stove should also be checked and have been the cause of one of the fire calls, with a fire getting into the pellet hopper.

The other problem for first responders are unplowed driveways. "You never know when an emergency may occur, so people should not leave their driveways unplowed or unshoveled for any length of time after a storm, in case there is an emergency." 

It is not easy to drag fire hoses in knee deep snow over long distances and it can cost precious time for responders. After the snowstorm a couple of weeks ago, there were several EMS calls where first responders were asking for four wheel drive or plow vehicles to access patients.

The EMS call on Wednesday was for a home where the ambulance was not able to utilize the driveway and the patient was transported with the Argo, which can travel any terrain.

There are cases where it is unavoidable, but you should pay attention to conditions and do everything possible to prevent delays or create dangerous situations.

In an emergency, time is important, and the more you can do to save time for first responders, the better it is.

The final reminder is to keep fire hydrants shoveled clear by several feet, enough to allow firefighters to  bring in a large diameter hose and have enough room to hook it to the hydrant.

"We may still have a lot of winter left," said VanEtten. "We want people to be safe. When conditions are extreme, people should do their best to keep themselves safe."