Fairfax, Va. — The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is urging fire departments to review cold weather safety tips with the local media and to lead education efforts in their community to use caution when using heating devices and generators. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating devices are the leading cause of fires in the home during December, January and February. The recent spate of winter storms has prompted heightened concern regarding the use of generators. On December 19, FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued a warning to consumers confronted by the recent winter weather and power outages to exercise caution when using portable generators.

"Already this winter we have seen multiple winter storms that have seriously impacted people across the country," said Chief Steven P. Westermann, IAFC president. "Adding the information on generators provided by FEMA/USFA to our previously IAFC-issued information on cold-weather safety gives the fire and emergency service another tool we can use to help prevent deadly situations from occurring."

The IAFC is reissuing the following information on winter safety:

FEMA/USFA December 19 press release

Keep Your Community Informed This Winter and Keep Them Safe and Warm from the November 15, 2007 issue of IAFC On Scene