Staying Warm and Safe This Winter

Keeping your home warm this year could be a challenge as utility costs go up and the economy goes down. The ACCESS, Inc. energy team is trying to keep the community warm.

Workers at ACCESS say they're expecting a colder than normal winter. Add to that a slight increase in both electricity and natural gas costs and they say more people are likely to need help this year paying the bills.

"I think that with the additional funding we'll come closer, but we definitely will not meet that demand. We never have and it's just a matter of a limited amount of resources and a lot of people that rely on our help," says Joe Lorenz, energy programs manager.

Statewide, Oregon will receive almost double the federal energy assistance it received last year. But Lorenz says access won't see any of that money until December.

If you think you might need help with your heating bills this year ACCESS may be able to help. You can visit them at www.access-inc.org or call 779-9020 to find out if you qualify for assistance.

Many others will turn to space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm this year and fire fighters have some tips to help you stay safe and warm.

Before using your fireplace or woodstove fire fighters say you should have your chimney flues cleaned and inspected.

Always use a screen made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass.

Regardless of how you heat your home, fire fighters say all houses should have working smoke detectors.

"They'll save your life. If you're asleep at night and you don't have a working smoke detector, if you do have a fire the smoke will come out and put you in a deeper sleep," says Greg Kleinberg, fire marshal with the Medford Fire Department.

If you use a portable heater Kleinberg says you should keep it three feet from anything combustible and be sure it has a tip-over shut off switch as well as a high temperature limit.