With the approaching cold weather and the flurry of leaves from the trees, Garden City Fire Chief Tom Foley has issued the following three fall warnings.

“This is one of our busiest seasons. Preventive care can go a long way in reducing the number of alarms we have to respond to,” said Foley.

Before turning on their oil burners, Village residents are urged to call their service company to clean and overhaul the furnace. “This will help prevent “blowbacks,” a condition caused by delayed ignition of oil in the furnace chamber. The “blowback” is actually an explosion that can lead to serious fire, soot and, just as bad, a very heavy, oily smell throughout the house,” said Foley.

“Many residents in this Village use fireplaces during the fall and winter months,” stated Foley. If a few simple steps are followed they can be enjoyed by the entire family instead of becoming a nightmare.”

Some simple steps for fireplace safety are:

1. Check the condition of your chimney for loose bricks and cracks, particularly where the chimney passes near or through the attic.

2. Check your damper operation. Some dampers have a tendency to slam shut when high winds cause a downdraft. Make sure the damper opens and closes securely to keep out animals and other pests.

3. Have your chimney cleaned annually, or as needed. A chimney sweep will advise you of any internal defects during cleaning.

4. Keep combustibles - paper, spare wood, cardboard, etc. - away from your fireplace.

5. Use a spark screen or heat resistant glass door to keep sparks and burning debris from landing on household furnishings, carpets and curtains.

6. Burn only dry, well-seasoned hardwood. Use paper products sparingly. Follow instructions carefully when using artificial logs.

7. Never leave the fire unattended or with untrained individuals. Caution babysitters, children and they elderly abut the dangers of your fireplace.

8. Make sure the fire is out before closing the damper. Do not leave the fire going while sleeping.

Outside the home, leaves are a potential fire hazard. “Residents are out raking leaves,” noted the Chief, “and those who don’t bag them pile them in the street against the curb. Simple care can prevent a serious problem.”

With the Village streets lined with leaves comes the risk of automobile fires.

“Residents are reminded not to park their vehicles over leaf piles,” continued Chief Foley, “because the catalytic converter becomes extremely hot during operation. The heat from these units is sufficient to ignite leaves. Not only will the leaves burn, but these fires can cause major damage to your automobile.”

“Fire prevention is a year-round program. With simple caution, residents can enjoy a safe and quiet fall.”