Bend Fire & Rescue preps for winter, has advice to homeowners, businesses to be ready for the cold weather ahead

(Update: Adding water meter, shut-off info)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- More crashes happen in snowy weather, as you might expect, so Bend Fire & Rescue is set to respond and has some advice for travelers and homeowners to stay safe. Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki also issued this reminder checklist Wednesday for homeowners and others to prepare for the cold snap to follow:

(Friday update): Pertaining to water meters - Our local water purveyors provided us some updated information on water meters and winter weather. Snow is a great insulator and in cold weather where snow is on the ground, leaving the snow on top of the meter box greatly reduces the chances of the meter and piping in the box from freezing.

As an alternative, locate and identify your private water shut off close to your house. Don't uncover the valve as to allow the snow to be an insulator to this as well, but know where it is for quick use in an emergency. Many homes have a water shut-off near the foundation of the home where the homeowner can shut the water quickly in the event of a water leak inside. This can be used not only during winter cold snaps but any time water leaks in your home. If your home is older and doesn't have such a shut-off valve, consider adding one at a later time. 

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With several days of predicted below-freezing weather upon us, the Bend Fire Department would like to remind everyone that a little bit of prep now can help prevent disasters during and after the freezing temperatures, especially due to frozen pipes. This is for everyone from homeowners, tenants, maintenance managers to contractors alike.

Winterizing your home should be done in the fall as the first freeze comes around. Now that we’re into the middle of winter and prepping for a winter storm, ensure those preparations are done and takes these extra precautions around your home. All of these are much easier when the snow is fresh and not frozen solid like it will be later this weekend. 

• Ensure outdoor faucets and water outlets still have their covers on them.
• Ensure you unbury your water meter box at the street, your natural gas or propane shut offs, and make access to any other utilities around your home. 
• Clear any snow off a fire hydrant in front of your house. 

Clear off your sidewalks, driveways, pathways, accesses to utilities, access to pets/farm animals, and vehicles. This is very important for access in the event of an emergency. If the snow accumulates too much, doors may not open, those with disabilities may not be able to traverse the snow and will slow down emergency services from getting to you in a time of need. As a public service reminder, if you know your neighbor, friend or family member can’t clear their walkway or driveway, please help them out. 

For your businesses, Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind building owners, facility managers, and building maintenance personnel to take actions before the cold weather hits to prevent fire sprinkler systems from freezing.

Our department responds to several fire sprinkler activations due to pipes breaking from freezing every year. These breaks can cause significant water damage but can easily be prevented. Also, frozen fire sprinkler pipes, even if they don’t break, render the sprinkler system inoperative to protect buildings from fire, thus jeopardizing lives and property.   

Most fire sprinkler systems that do freeze are the result of lack of maintenance. Ensure that all periodic maintenance has been completed. Contact your fire sprinkler service company to schedule service if it is overdue. Frequencies for maintenance vary depending on the type of system that is installed. Empty any drains for the sprinkler system to prevent water from building up on the exterior or exposed areas of these systems. 

Another common cause of water line and sprinkler system freezing is inadequate heating in normally heated spaces. This often occurs in vacant areas when the heating system is turned down or off when no one is home or the space is vacant.

While some sprinkler systems are designed to operate in cold temperatures, the majority of fire sprinkler pipe must be installed in areas that can maintain a minimum temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make sure your heating and ventilation systems are in good working order. For homes, consider opening up the cupboards below sinks at night to allow warm air to get into the cabinet to prevent freezing. 

These simple steps can prevent the costly damage from water line breaks, not to mention time lost to restore your building/home back to full operation. Check your fire sprinkler system today. Call your service company to schedule maintenance. Check your heating and ventilation system. Use safe heating practices. Call us for any questions related to fire sprinkler systems and how to prevent a freeze.

When using supplemental heating equipment utilize only equipment that is listed and approved for its intended use. Many gas powered heaters are not designed for indoor use. Always provide at least 3 feet of clearance when using portable space heaters. Ensure all electrical heating appliances are plugged in safely into an outlet or approved surge protector. 

Ensure all your smoke and CO alarms are in working order. As the weather gets colder, we tend to shut the house up much more tightly. This can lead to a quicker build up of smoke and CO inside a home. The quicker build up can lead to less time to escape, making those alarms even more important. 

Please contact your local fire department for more information about preparing for winter.