THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025 Page 11 State Fire Marshal Offers Cold Snap Heating Safety Tips Heating Equipment is a Leading Cause of Fires, Carbon Monoxide Note: This information is from a press release issued by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services on January 6, 2025. Natural Gas and Oil Heat If you have a furnace, waS TOW — With temperatures expected to dip into the teens overnight this week, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to stay warm safely and protect their loved ones from some of the most common home heating fi res. “We’re expecting very cold weather in the nights ahead, and home heating appliances will be working overtime,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide at home and the second leading cause of residential fi res. Whether you’re using gas, oil, solid fuel, or space heaters to keep warm, be sure you keep safe, too.” State Fire Marshal Davine said there were nearly 6,000 heating fi res in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2023. These fi res claimed eight lives, caused 139 injuries to firefighters and residents, and contributed to over $42 million in damage. And in 2023 alone, Massachusetts fi re departments reported fi nding carbon monoxide at nearly 5,000 non-fi re incidents. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Every household needs working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their home. Check the manufacturing date on the back of your alarms so you know when to replace them: smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after 5 to 10 years depending on the model. If your alarms take alkaline batteries, put in fresh batteries twice a year when you change your clocks. If it’s time to replace your alarms, choose new ones from a well-known, national brand. Select smoke alarms with a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature. ter heater, or oil burner, have it professionally checked and serviced each year. This will help it run more efficiently, which will save you money and could save your life. Always keep a three-foot “circle of safety” around the appliance clear of anything that could catch fi re. Never store painting supplies, aerosol cans, or other fl ammable items near these appliances. If you smell gas, don’t use any electrical switches or devices: get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 right away. Residents struggling to pay for heating bills or maintenance may be eligible for assistance through the Massachusetts home energy assistance program (HEAP). No matter what type of heating equipment you use, HEAP may be able to help you pay your winter heating bills or maintain your heating system. All Massachusetts residents are encouraged to explore eligibility for this free program and apply for assistance. Solid Fuel Heating If you use a fireplace or a stove that burns wood, pellets, or coal, always keep the area around it clear for three feet in all directions. This circle of safety should be free of furniture, drapery, rugs, books and papers, fuel, and any other fl ammable items. To prevent sparks and embers from escaping, use a fi replace screen or keep the stove door closed while burning. Use only dry, seasoned hardwood and don’t use fl ammable liquids to start the fi re. To dispose of ashes, wait until they are cool and shovel them into a metal bucket with a lid and place it outside at least 10 feet away from the building. Have your chimney and fl ue professionally inspected and cleaned each year. Most chimney fi res are caused by burning creosote, a tarry substance that builds up as the fi replace, wood stove, or pellet stove is used. If burning creosote, sparks, embers, or hot gases escape through cracks in the fl ue or chimney, they can cause a fi re that spreads to the rest of the structure. Annual cleaning and inspection can minimize this risk. Contact the Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild or Chimney Safety Institute of America to identify reputable local companies. Space Heaters Keep space heaters at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and anything else that can burn. Plug them directly into a wall socket, not an extension cord or a power strip, and remember that they’re for temporary use. Always turn a space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep. When purchasing a space heater, select one that’s been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Newer space heaters should have an automatic shut-off switch that turns the device off if it tips over. Unvented kerosene space heaters and portable propane space heaters are not permitted for residential use in Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Davine said: the risk of fi re and carbon monoxide poisoning that they pose is too great. Create and Practice a Home Escape Plan Everyone should have a home escape plan that accounts for two ways out of every room, and everyone should be able to open the doors and windows along the way. Remember that children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need extra assistance. More Home Heating Safety Tips The Department of Fire Services off ers a wealth of home heating safety information, including the “Keep Warm, Keep Safe” tool kit for local fi re departments, caregivers, and service providers at https://www. mass.gov/info-details/winterhome-heating-safety Revere resident earn Dean’s List honors from MassBay Community College T he following local resident has been named to the MassBay Community College Dean’s List, achieving this outstanding academic honor for the fall 2024 semester: Yolanda DaluzSoto, who studies General Studies. To be eligible for the MassBay Dean’s List, students must complete at least six credits of college-level courses, be in good standing with the College, and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. MassBay Community College off ers a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certifi cate programs with fl exible day, evening and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills and online. To learn more about MassBay, visit massbay.edu Updates to Revere Parking Sticker Program Increase Convenience for Residents Offi ce of the Parking Clerk moves to electronic permits that renew upon completed payment of excise tax Special to Th e Advocate R EVERE, MA — The Offi ce of the Parking Clerk is moving to improve the Resident Parking Sticker Program to increase convenience for residents: Eff ective March 1, 2025, residents will no longer be required to display a parking sticker on their vehicle. All parking permits will be processed upon payment of vehicle excise tax, and permits will be automatically issued based on vehicle plate number. During the month of February, please be on the lookout for mail from our vendor, City Hall Systems. Your permit receipt will be mailed to you from City Hall Systems directly, not from the City of Revere. Please retain this important document. If you have not received your permit receipt by February 18th, kindly contact the Revere Parking Offi ce at (781) 629-5127 or (781) 6292542. You may also reach us by email at Parking@Revere.org. He’s Back...and Better Than Ever! John A. Fitzpatrick (Fitzy) Sales & Lease Consultant Direct: 617.410.1030 Main: 617.381.9000 Cell: 617.279.9962 McGovern Automotive Group 100 Broadway, Rte. 99, Everett
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