Winter Reminders for Colchester Residents
The fall season is heating appliance tune-up time. Have all fuel burning, heating appliances serviced and your chimney checked.
Remember to keep combustibles away from all heating appliances.
Kerosene heaters can be dangerous when operated in enclosed spaces, provide proper ventilation and always fill the tank when the heater is off and cool.
Note: The State of Connecticut Fire Code prohibits the use of Kerosene heaters in multiple family dwellings.
Residents are reminded that this is the season that causes a lot of problems for fire and EMS personnel attempting to provide you emergency services quickly.
Snow and ice covered driveways and sidewalks create difficulty for emergency responders to access your home. Moving a stretcher through ice and snow is extremely difficult requiring numerous additional personnel. Driveways and walkways should be cleared as soon as possible after snow falls.
Fire Hydrants
Residents fortunate to have a fire hydrant on their property are asked, if possible to remove the snow from around the hydrant.
Ice dangers on waterways- Ice is not uniformly thick from one location to the other and underlying conditions such as springs, current and rock formations below the surface can affect the formation of solid ice. It could be 6 inches thick in one spot and 1 inch a few feet away.
Such inconsistencies contribute to a false sense of security as children or adults venture further form shore. Each year unsuspecting children die in ice related incidents.
Remember- The only absolute in “Safe” ice is to stay off.
If ice-skating is your thing- check with you’re local municipality for safe ice-skating locations. Ice fishermen; call the State of Connecticut DEP for information.
If a pet or animal falls through thin ice do not venture out on to the ice, if the ice did not support the animal if won’t support you. Dial 9-1-1 we have the equipment and training to remedy the situation.
Is Your Number Up? We mean your address number.
We cannot get to you quickly during an emergency if your street number is not clearly visible. Two sided reflective green or blue number signs are available at fire headquarters for twelve dollars or you may purchase reflective numbers at your local hardware store and create your own.
Please help us locate your home quickly during an emergency.
A friendly reminder from Colchester Fire and Emergency medical Services.
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