FIRE OFFICIALS URGE RESIDENTS TO KEEP FIRE SAFETY IN MIND

Fire officials in Western Pennsylvania are urging residents to keep home heating safety in mind at the start of 2026.  Experts say fires sparked by space heaters, fireplaces, and other appliances tend to spike as we head deeper into winter.  Chief Brennan Sites with Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company Number Three is reminding residents that chimneys need cleaned at least once a year and electric space heaters need to be plugged directly into the wall, without an extension cord, and placed at least three feet from anything that can burn.  The chief also recommends having a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher on every floor of the home.