Is your chimney ready for Santa?

SAGLE — Is your chimney ready for Santa?

With Fire Protection Week beginning on Oct. 3, making sure your chimney is cleaned and ready for winter — and Old Saint Nick — is among the tips recommended by Selkirk Fire.

Before you turn on that wood burning stove or that heater make sure they are cleaned.

Captain Clink Frank at Selkirk Fire said stoves should be cleaned mid-winter, February and again in the spring.

Chimneys should be cleaned as well. Chimney brushes and other tools — of various sizes to accommodate different chimneys — can be rented for free at Selkirk Fire Station 1 at Sandpoint City Hall. If homeowners are unable to clean their own chimney, they could call a certified chimney sweeper instead.

With any heating source, Frank said the rule of thumb is three feet from heat. That means keeping it away from combustibles, walls, curtains or anything else that could catch fire.

If you smell a burning smell from electric heaters, unplug it, said Frank, adding the fire department can check it out with their thermal imaging camera to make sure there are no active fires within the walls.

“We can go investigate, but that’s when we will refer you to another expert — an electrician,” said Frank.

Open burning will return Oct. 20 until May 10. Special permits can be acquired by the Idaho Department of Lands for those that live outside of the incorporated city of Sandpoint.

“Burning is just part of every fall and spring cleanup in Idaho,” said Frank.

Before dialing 911 for a fire make sure it is not a burn pile or if you’re burning debris, let the proper authorities know, Frank said.

“We try to stay in our first response area as much as possible. Knowing that calls and other service takes us out of that” he said.

Selkirk Fire is a five-station department covering 192 square miles. They have contingencies where they back up other stations on larger calls, Frank said.

“The idea is that we stay in our first due area as much as possible before going out on other calls,” said the captain.

When you change your clocks you should change your smoke alarm batteries or at least check them, he said. It doesn't matter if you have a smoke alarm if the battery's dead or doesn't work.

“One of the most frustrating things is arriving on scene at a life-ending fire where there were no smoke alarms,” he said.

Selkirk Fire also has a free smoke alarm installation program to assist the elderly or anyone that has disabilities that has difficulty installing their own smoke alarms. Just call the main office any day of the week to schedule installation.

Frank said that safety and assisting the community is a top priority. With his many years of experience, he said he has seen many preventable road accidents and reminded the public to be aware of winter road conditions.

Car length spacing when on the road way can prevent the fire and emergency services to be called, he said. For winter months to assist emergency services it is best if driveways are maintained through the winter and addresses are properly signed.

“We can't provide help if your driveway is not plowed,” said Frank.

Address should be three-inch lettering, visible and reflective, he said. This assists emergency responders to provide life-saving services.