WINTER WEATHER: Fire official details home safety tips for space heaters, frozen pipes amid bitter cold
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Frigid temperatures mean home owners will begin looking for ways to safely heat their homes.
Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said anyone looking to do so should ensure the correct procedures are followed. Blomenkamp said the main issue with alternative heating devices such as space heaters and electric blankets is people forgetting to unplug them.
According to Blomenkamp, many space heaters have features that will allow them to automatically turn off. However, heaters can stay hot for a period of time after they've been used, which could become dangerous.
"So you can imagine something being right up against that (space heater) or this thing falling over against a pillow. You have the potential to start a fire," Blomenkamp said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters account for one-third of home heating fires, and 80% of home heating fire deaths.
In order to avoid a fire, Blomenkamp recommends always unplugging the heater if you're not nearby.
Blomenkamp also said it's important to be aware that extreme temperatures can lead to items in homes freezing that normally wouldn't, including pipes. For this reason, he recommends people leave the cupboards under bathroom and kitchen sinks open.
Blomenkamp also said if a pipe does freeze inside of a home, people should call a professional immediately.
"We've had many structure fires where people have tried to thaw their own pipes out using a blow torch," Blomenkamp said. "If you do have a heat problem or a freeze problem, call a professional and let them come and thaw it out."
According to Blomenkamp, anyone looking to use wood burning fire places or stoves should have them inspected before doing so. In the event that one has not been inspected, he said it's important to use extra caution when using them and to be hyper aware.
Blomenkamp recommends people stay inside their homes during extreme temperatures.
However, in the event people have to be outside, he said layering on light clothing--drinking fluids--and avoiding alcohol are crucial steps to take.
Plumber advises ways to keep pipes from freezing in frigid temperatures
Freezing temperatures could lead to frozen pipes and flooded homes.
Brian Wear, owner of Brian Wear Plumbing, said people should seal up any areas where cold air can get inside their home and near the pipes. He said main areas include sealing the crawl space and vents surrounding the crawl space, sealing any entrances dear the dryer vent and closing the garage door.
"As cold as it's going to get, and especially when it's windy, that's when the cold air really tends to get into whatever space it can," Wear said.
He said people who have had frozen pipes before are likely to have it happen again if they never fixed the issue.
Wear said people can also leave their faucets dripping and cabinet doors open to help prevent pipes from freezing. He said it wouldn't hurt to do this both overnight and while people are gone during the day since the temperatures will be so cold.
He said when people leave faucets dripping, they should leave both the hot and cold nozzles dripping since it is two separate pipes. If a sink only has one nozzle, it should be between the hot and cold settings.
In a news release, Boone County Public Water Supply said if anyone has a meter well, they should make sure the ring and lid are on the well, and even put something like straw on top to keep the cold air out.
Wear said if people know they are going to be gone for a while, it's not a bad idea to shut the main water off.
"Especially if you know you have a frozen pipe, shut your main water off because it can thaw while you're gone at work and flood your whole entire house," Wear said.
He said cold snaps like this keep him busy.
"The problem is, when it's this cold and then it's going to stay this cold pretty much all week, if we get it thawed, then tonight it's likely to do it again," Wear said. "So, the biggest thing is being prepared."
He said if a pipe does burst, people should shut of their main water and begin cleaning up until a plumber can get there.
Columbia MLK candlelight walk and memorial celebration canceled
The City of Columbia announced in a Friday press release that its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day Candlelight Walk and Memorial Celebration has been canceled due to weather.
The walk was originally set to take place Monday at the Armory Sports Center in Downtown Columbia before heading over to St. Luke United Methodist Church. The cancelation occurred because of dangerously low temperatures and “potentially hazardous walking conditions,” the release states.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team is predicting air temperatures to have a low of minus-4 degrees on Monday.
Stay up to date with all area cancelations with our closing and delays page.
Roads start to get icy in Mid-Missouri
State highways around Mid-Missouri were starting to see partial ice coverage late Friday morning.
The Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map showed Highway 63 and Interstate 70 through Boone County were mostly clear. They were marked as clear earlier in the day.
Other area state highways, including Highway 240 in Boone and Howard counties, had more ice coverage, according to the MoDOT map.
Jefferson City School District to dismiss three hours early
The Jefferson City School District will dismiss students three hours early Friday as roads are expected to get slick amid a winter storm.
The district announced at about 9:30 a.m. Friday. Several other schools had already announced Friday closures or other adjustments due to the winter storm that is hitting Mid-Missouri. Columbia Public Schools was among those to call off Friday classes on Thursday.
Temperatures are expected to drop throughout the day Friday as rain transitions to snow. Brutal cold will then set in, with lows this weekend below zero.
New Bloomfield schools in Callaway County will dismiss at 11 a.m.
Warming centers available in Columbia as cold weather hits
The City of Columbia sent a press release on Thursday reminding residents of warming centers throughout the city before cold temperatures sweep through the area.
Warming centers are open during each location's business hours and are located at:
- ARC (Activity and Recreation Center), 1701 W. Ash St.
Hours: Monday – Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. - City Hall, 701 E. Broadway
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed this Monday for holiday) - Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St.
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed this Monday for holiday) - Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m. - Salvation Army, 1108 W. Ash Street
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m. - Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann Street
Hours: Daily 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. - St. Francis House, 901 Rangeline Street
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 7-8:30 a.m.; Every evening: 7 – 9 p.m.
A temporary overnight center is also available at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, 702 Wilkes Boulevard, according to the city's website.
The press release also stated that this Monday's hours could be affected by Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The city previously said that the city's offices would be closed on Monday in observance for the holiday. A city spokesperson confirmed that city hall would not be open as a warming center on Monday.
City of Fulton asks residents to conserve energy
The City of Fulton asked residents Thursday to conserve energy ahead of a brutal cold snap, echoing what happened two years ago when prices spiked.
The city, which runs a municipal utility, asked residents to conserve from Friday to next Tuesday, a period when temperatures are expected to dip below zero. Single digits are forecast for highs on some of those days.
The city was forced to spend millions of unbudgeted dollars in 2021 when prices snapped during a deep freeze that disrupted natural gas distribution in Texas.
Columbia Public Schools cancels Friday classes
Columbia Public Schools announced in an email that the district will not be in session on Friday.
"The expected midday arrival of winter weather coupled with dropping temperatures throughout tomorrow are of concern. The timing of these weather elements may not allow for a safe dismissal at the end of the school day. The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority," the email reads.
The ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day that begins on Friday with snow coming into the area, before dangerous temperatures hit the area this weekend.
Columbia Public Schools was among many of the Mid-Missouri school districts this week who canceled class on Tuesday due to snowfall in the area. CPS also decided to have a two-hour delayed for Wednesday for additional time to clear its sidewalks and parking lots.
CPS' email also states that "the district has enough instructional hours built into its school year calendar to allow for approximately 6 winter weather days to be taken without having to make them up at the end of the school year."
Stay up to date with all area school closings and delays on our website.
Parson signs order easing commercial driving requirements ahead of frigid weather
Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order on Thursday that waives some commercial driving restrictions ahead of a frigid cold spell entering the area this weekend.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, the order suspends hours of service regulations for drivers who are transporting residential heating fuels such as propane, natural gas and heating oil. The order also activates the National Guard for state and local responses, if needed.
"With extreme cold forecasted for this weekend, we want to be prepared to respond however may be needed," Gov. Mike Parson said in the email. "Missourians should be proactive in their preparations and so too should state government. This Order helps ensure Missourians' homes stay heated and that state government and our National Guard members stand ready to assist."
