Wintertime means holiday time, but it also brings increased fire dangers for families and homeowners.

A few precautions can help keep you and your family safe from fire and carbon monoxide dangers, though.

Many La Plata County residents may be unaware that their heating devices can pose the biggest threat to their safety, especially as temperatures drop.

Karola Hanks, fire marshal with the Durango Fire Protection District, said fires are a major issue this time of year through February.

“Home heating equipment is involved in one of every seven house fires across this nation,” she said.

Fortunately, this community has very few fire deaths, she said.

The most important preventive measure a family can take is to have their heating equipment serviced at least once a year. However, if you are burning sappy wood, such as Ponderosa pine, you need clean your stove or chimney more often because of buildup, she said. Filters also need to be checked and replaced.

Residents using either a pellet stove, a fireplace, gas heating device or a gas-powered water heater are putting themselves and their families at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, Hanks said. Those households need to have a carbon monoxide detector inside their home.

Frequently check your ventilation system to make sure it’s free of debris, birds and wasps to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Colorado law requires all rental properties with fuel-fired appliances to have carbon monoxide detectors installed, Hanks said.

It’s crucial that residents keep combustible items at least three feet away from heating appliances, Hanks said.

Also, make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home so you get early notice that there’s a fire and can get out safely.

“We need to treat our appliances the same way we treat our cars,” Hanks said, by seeking regularly maintenance.

“It’s a bad habit that we have as a society,” Hanks said. “We need to turn around and say: ‘No, I’m going to treat this more diligently.’”

Hanks recommends that homeowners call certified professionals rather than try to fix or maintain appliances themselves.

Gene Jones, master plumber and owner of Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, said homeowners need to know how to identify their gas source.

If a resident suspects a gas leak, Jones said, he or she should take the following steps:

Evacuate the home and don’t forget pets.

Leave doors and windows open.

Don’t try to operate electrical or battery powered devices inside the home, including cellphones.

From a safe distance, call Atmos Energy’s emergency number, 866-322-8667 or your propane provider. Also call 911.

Know how to turn off your gas.

Annually inspect gas appliance and gas piping.

You can never go wrong with planning ahead.

According to the Red Cross, the most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to find and remove the hazards. Having a working smoke alarm can save your life; smoke alarms should be tested once a month.

The Red Cross also advises that families develop a fire escape plan been that has been practiced twice a year, because experience shows people may only have a couple of minutes to escape a blaze.

Frank Enea, owner of Classique Builders, said all new homes have carbon monoxide detectors in addition to smoke detectors.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are being hard-wired into new homes so they are not soley reliant on batteries, he said.

Also, builders are installing direct-vent heating appliances, which do not use a standing pilot, Enea said.

“It basically pulls fresh air in and exhaust air to the outside, he said. “There is less potential for fire and carbon monoxide danger.”

Classique Builders is looking into using Nest smoke detectors because the manufacturer provides the latest in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Nest products became rather popular when the company came out with a “smart” thermostat that learns a user’s heating and cooling preferences, he said.

But the best alert mechanisms you can use in an emergency are your own senses.

“You can’t go wrong with running out of your house and calling the authorities,” Jones said. “When in doubt, call 911.”

vguthrie@durangoherald.com

Who to call

If you have a question about fire safety, call the Durango Fire Protection District at 382-6000.