Fire prevention important as temperatures drop

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN - An apartment building in Neenah shows evidence of a fire.

Neenah Police officer Stuart Zuehls explains what happened after he arrived at the building Friday morning around 8:30: "I open the front door of the apartment building, and I mean there was smoke everywhere."

The Neenah Police Department provided FOX 11 pictures from the scene. Zuehls opened doors to all four units in the building. One woman made it out with his help.

"I said do I have your permission to put you on my shoulders and she said yes," said Zuehls.

Other officers helped get people out of the building. All of them made it out.

While investigators are still trying to figure out what started the Neenah fire, this time of year does tend to increase concern about the risk of house fires.

"Historically, every time as it starts to get colder, you get multiple days under 30 degrees or 32 degrees, fires seem to pick up and there's a variety of reasons, heating units are being used more, wood burners, fireplaces, etc., and they haven't been used frequently until as of late," said Captain Chris Heil of the Green Bay Fire Marshal's Office.

Heil says there are a number of things you can do to help prevent a fire in your home.

He says you should have your furnace checked once a year. He also says if you use space heaters, make sure they are newer, and have a timer or an automatic shut off if they get knocked over. Heil also says it's important to have a working smoke alarm, and an escape plan.

"Having an escape plan, you know what to do in time of emergency and that's having two ways out of your home or out of a place where you're sleeping, like out of a bedroom," said Heil.

Officer Zuehls saw the importance of those things first hand.

"I'm just glad everybody made it out safe, and it was a combined, it was a good effort," said Zuehls.

The Green Bay Fire Marshal's office also says with the holiday season nearing it is important to be particularly careful when cooking, using candles, and fireplaces.

The Centers for Disease Control says the highest risk for house fires is in December, January, and February.