Dunn, North Carolina

... Record daily maximum rainfall set at Raleigh-Durham Intl Airport
NC...

a record rainfall of 2.3 inch(es) was set at Raleigh-Durham Intl
Airport NC yesterday. This breaks the old record of 0.99 set in
1984.

... Winter weather preparedness week in North Carolina November 29
through December 5, 2009...

This week has been declared winter weather preparedness week in
North Carolina. The National Weather Service will be issuing
informative messages to help you prepare for winter weather.

Each day we will cover a different topic. Today we will talk about
cold temperatures and the dangers of fire and improper heating.

Cold temperatures are a fact of winter. With these cold temperatures
comes an increase in the number of house fires. According to the
National fire protection association... a house fire is reported to a
Fire Department in the United States every one and a half
minutes... and someone dies in a house fire every two and a half
hours. Over four hundred thousand house fires claimed nearly three
thousand lives in 2008 nationwide. Eighty Four percent of all fire
related deaths occurred in the home.

House fires resulting from heating material within the home ranks
second for the most deaths and property loss falling behind
improperly discarded smoking material. Chimney fires are the number
one cause of home heating fires and are typically the result of a
poorly maintained chimney where Creosote is allowed to build up.
Fires resulting from improper use of portable and fixed space
heaters... including wood stoves... are responsible for a
disproportionate share of fire deaths. Space heaters are typically
involved in 25 percent of home heating fires but account for 74
percent of the deaths.

The American Red Cross responds to more than 68,000 disasters each
year... the majority of which are single-family fires. At least two
of every three deadly home heating fires in the U.S. Are attributed
to space heating equipment. All types of common space heating
equipment are involved in these home fires... electric
heaters... kerosene heaters... wood stoves... fireplaces... and gas
heaters. Common causes of space heating home fires are placing space
heaters too close to combustibles... and fueling errors involving
liquid or gas fueled heating equipment.

The Red Cross recommends taking the following preventive measures to
help minimize the chance and impact of fire.

1) make sure all smoke detectors are working properly and have fresh
batteries.

2) be extremely careful with candles. Colder temperatures result in
more burning of candles. Winter storms and power outages further
increases the use of candles and oil lamps in the home. Keep candles
away from combustible materials. Never leave children unattended in
a room with lit candles. Keep candles... matches and lighters out of
The Reach of children.

3) inspect fireplaces and wood stoves. Have your chimney
connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if
necessary prior to the start of every heating season.

4) use a sturdy screen or door in front of your fireplace when
burning fires.

5) burn only wood, never burn paper... including discarded gift
wrap... or Pine boughs.

6) do not hang Holiday decorations from or on your fireplace if you
plan to use it as a heat source.

7) be aware of overuse of electrical outlets - don't overload your
electrical outlets and be careful of extension cords that present
hazardous walkways.

8) have one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Most
fire departments will provide training on how to use fire
extinguishers.

Many people fall victim to fires in their homes during the winter.
This fact means that everyone should have a fire extinguisher. Make
your fire extinguisher is fully charged. Be sure to test smoke
detectors and replace any broken detectors and dead batteries.