Brattleboro Fire Department Shares Cold Weather Safety Tips

In a weather briefing from the National Weather Service the coldest air mass of the season is expected this weekend, with the coldest temperatures Saturday night into Sunday.

Very cold temperatures combined with strong gusty winds will allow for wind chill values to reach dangerous to potentially life threatening levels between Friday Night and Sunday night.  The lowest values will be on Saturday night and will occur across the higher elevations, where wind chill values may be as low as 30 to 50 below zero.  Valley areas will see wind chill values in the 20 to 30 below zero range.   Actual air temperatures will be below zero across the entire area on Saturday night as well.  

The Brattleboro Fire Department would like to remind you of some very simple, but important precautions to keep you safe as this weather approaches;

Heating appliances will work harder than normal. Make sure you have a sufficient fuel supply.

If you are using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Make sure you turn them off if you leave the house.

Make sure all fuel burning heat sources are vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.

If you have pipes that have a tendency to freeze run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent your pipes from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

If pipes do freeze, do not use a torch to thaw them! This is a dangerous practice, contact a plumber or use a space heater to safely thaw them.

It is very easy to get hyperthermia or frost bite when outside in these temperatures. Cover all exposed skin and layer up. Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm as well as gloves and a hat will help prevent losing your body heat.

Check on your neighbors, relatives and the elderly. Make sure everyone is safe.

Bring pets indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.

If you have any questions or need any type of assistance please contact the Brattleboro Fire Department at 254-4831.

Brattleboro Fire Department
103 Elliot Street * Brattleboro, VT 05301 * 802-254-4831 FAX: 802-257-2323

Michael Bucossi, Fire Chief
Peter Lynch, Assistant Chief