Earthquake Damage Could Lead to Home Heating Hazards

is cautioning residents to have their home heating equipment cleaned and inspected.

The cold and rain at the beginning of the month caused people to turn on space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces, with some incidents resulting.

Last weekend a malfunctioning furnace filled a Greenbelt apartment with smoke and a space heater may have led to a house fire in Landover, among other incidents around the county.

As fall sets in, it will get cooler. This year, there is an increased concern from fire service professionals for possible hazards caused by that left some chimneys and ventilation pipes damaged. These are things homeowners might not be able to see, so it’s important to have a licensed professional check them, stated Mark Brady, Fire/EMS spokesman in a press release.

Here are some ways you can prepare for the cooler weather:

• Look at your furnace, ventilation pipes and chimneys for any obvious signs of damage.

• De-clutter the area around your furnace, heating units and water heaters.

• Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and at work. Test them each month, and replace their batteries at least once each year.