From The Trussville Tribune Staff Reports
Temperatures in central Alabama are expected to dip into the 20s Thursday night into Friday.
There will also be 5-10 mile per hour winds, bringing the wind chill into the teens.
The National Weather Service Birmingham has issued a reminder to remember the four P’s: people, pets, animals and pipes.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has also issued several reminders for those heating their homes, as half of home heating fires occur during December, January and Feburary.
Anything that can burn should be kept at least three feet away from heating equipment, and children should always stay at least three feet away from space heaters and open fires.
Ovens should never be used to heat homes.
The NFPA said a qualified professional should always install stationary heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment in accordance with local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
Heating equipment and chimneys should be cleaned yearly and inspected by a qualified professional.
All portable heaters should be turned off before going to bed or leaving the house. The right kind of fuel should also always be used for space heaters.
Fireplaces should be equipped with a sturdy screen to prevent sparks form flying into the room. Ashes should cool completely before they are disposed of.
Finally, smoke alarms should be tested once a month.