Winter’s cold and freezing temperatures lead many households to use heating equipment, making this a high-risk season for home fires. The National Fire Protection Association identifies heating equipment as the leading cause of home fires in December and January. Cooking is a year-round concern, while electrical equipment ranks third, with nearly one-third of electrical fires happening between November and February.
Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of a home fire as winter sets in.
-Make sure all heating equipment is in good working order.
-Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, or space heaters.
-Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away from your home as possible.
-Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used by the manufacturer’s instructions.
-Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come in contact with water.
-Make sure every bedroom and common area outside the bedrooms has a working smoke alarm. Be sure to check the smoke detectors monthly.
-Plug only one heat-producing appliance, like a space heater, into an electrical outlet at a time.
-Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device. It is a safety hazard and can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.
-Frozen water pipes? Never try to thaw them with a blowtorch or other open flame. The pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the inside of the wall. Use hot water or a UL-labeled device such as a hand-held dryer for thawing.
-If windows are used as emergency exits in your home, practice using them in the event of a fire. Be sure that all the windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended.
-If there is a fire hydrant near your home, you can assist the fire department by keeping the hydrant clear of obstacles so it can be easily located. Plan and practice a home escape plan with your family.
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News & notes: Weekly reports, sports registration, council, shelters
The week that was: The latest information on city projects, permits, service calls, and more from the departments of Police, Fire, Engineering, Community Development, and Public Works is posted on the city’s Weekly Reports page. To see the weekly department reports, click here.
Baseball/Softball registration: The Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department will hold registration on Saturdays, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center, 2520 Pass Road. Practices and games will begin in February at the A.J. Holloway Sports Complex, 765 Wells Drive. For more information, contact Ronnie Seymour at 228-388-7170 or email rseymour@biloxi.ms.us. To see the flyer, click here.
Council meetings: To see more about Biloxi City Council meetings, including agendas and live feeds, click here.
Shelters: Two cold-weather shelters open today and Wednesday in Harrison County in anticipation of cold weather conditions. The Kenny Fournier Multipurpose Building, 10395 Automall Parkway in D’Iberville, opens at 4:30 p.m., and the Salvation Army Center of Hope, 2019 22nd St. in Gulfport, opens at 6 p.m. For more details, click here.
