News photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Monday, Adrienne Thompson and Dough Keough are seen checking a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector in an AFD fire truck. Fire Chief Andy Marceau said that homeowners should check their smoke detectors monthly, regardless of the season.

ALPENA — Alpena City Fire Department (AFD) Fire Chief Andy Marceau said that as temperatures drop and people find ways to heat their homes, they should take extra precautions when using space heaters, fire places, or woodstoves.

Across the state of Michigan residents have been experiencing freezing temperatures in the past week that have broken records from the National Weather Service. A record low was recorded on Saturday as the low reached -18 degrees, breaking the record low of 17-degrees below zero recorded in 1948 and 1970.

According to the National Weather Service, the lowest recorded temperature this past week was on Saturday and the highest temperature recorded was on Wednesday, as the high reached 22 degrees.

Marceau explained that as temperatures continue to drop this winter, people are doing what they have to so they can beat the cold.

“In these cold temperatures, everyone is trying to keep their homes warm,” Marceau said.

He explained that if using space heaters, it is important to keep combustibles, such as paper or clothing, three feet away. This best practice also applies to fireplaces.

Marceau added that space heaters, for example, should not be used overnight or when homes are unoccupied. Outdoor heating equipment should also not be used indoors.

He said that when people are struggling financially and struggle to keep their house warm, they might seek alternative methods that put them at greater risk for a fire.

“Times are tough,” Marceau said. “Maybe they can’t fill their propane tank to heat their home.”

He suggested that if people are struggling to pay their heating bills they should reach out to nonprofits or churches in the area for assistance before using space heaters or stoves to heat a home.

In cases where people are relying on electrical means to heat their home, the demand of power can overload a circuit and lead to an electrical fire.

Marceau said that though there are no clear indications that more structure fires occur during the winter, he said that there “definitely is more potential for fires.”

In his experience, Marceau said AFD has responded to house fires in which chimneys were not properly cleaned or there were not proper screens in place for fireplaces in homes.

He explained that AFD follows National Fire Protection Association guidance when offering heating safety tips to community members.

The NFPA suggests making a three-feet “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. The association also recommends disposing of ashes from fireplaces once they are completely cooled, and to keep them in a metal container at a safe distance from the home.

As a general rule of thumb, Marceau explained that smoke alarms should be tested once a month, despite the time of year, and that homeowners should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on the first floor.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.