Brief Details of the Tornadoes from Thursday, September 20, 2018

This is a brief listing of all the tornadoes that have been confirmed. Some of these tracks may be combined to reduce the total number, and some others may yet be found. All information is preliminary. A web page with track maps, times, and other information will be updated when tracks are determined. Read More >

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Winter Fire Safety

Facts

Cooking is usually the number one cause for residential fires, with open flames and heating fires often the number two and three causes
Most heating fires in Minnesota involve fireplaces or chimneys
Almost three-quarters of fire deaths occur in the home, making it the most dangerous place to be with regard to fire
Many home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors

Safety Information

Turn off portable heating appliances when leaving the home or retiring for the evening. This includes verifying that a fire in the fireplace has been fully extinguished
Have at least 3 feet of clearance between any heating equipment and anything that can burn. Keep children and loose clothing away from any heating equipment
Have chimneys and fireplaces and other heating devices professionally inspected prior to the start of every heating season
Use a sturdy screen or glass closure in front of your fireplace, and burn only clean fireplace wood
Make sure smoke detectors are installed on every level of your home, including your basement. Test them monthly
Place holiday decorations well away from heat sources. If you use a tree, water it daily as a dry tree can be consumed by fire in an instant while generating enough heat to ignite the entire room

The above recommendations are courtesy of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs' Association and the State Fire Marshal Division. For further information, contact:

Your local fire department
The State Fire Marshal Division at (651) 201-7200
The State Fire Chiefs' Association at (763) 234-4332

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Brief Details of the Tornadoes from Thursday, September 20, 2018

Winter Hazard Awareness Week in Minnesota