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Practice safety, stay warm as temperature drops in region

By Mike Jones and Paul Paterra 7 min read

As the temperatures plummet in Southwestern Pennsylvania this week, local first responders and experts offer tips for staying warm and safe.

Heating equipment is a big fire culprit in the winter months, with human error often resulting in home heating fires.

South Strabane Township fire Chief Jordan Cramer offered various tips to people using space heaters trying to keep their dwellings warm.

“A couple of the big things are just keeping items away from space heathers. We understand people often have to use them, but don’t keep anything around them,” Cramer said, adding that objects should be three or four feet away from the units.

He added that people should only plug one space heater into an outlet at a time and advised against using extension cords or surge protectors to connect them.

“They tend to draw a lot of power and tend to heat those items up and can cause a fire,” Cramer said.

In addition, Cramer said people should make sure they have working carbon monoxide detectors because heating sources could put out the invisible and odorless poisonous gas into a home.

“You cannot smell it, so you need some sort of device to tell you when something is wrong,” Cramer said. “If people are unsure of anything, call their fire department. We are always happy to come out and consult with them. If they’re unsure, we can come out and give our best advice.”

Columbia Gas also offered a number of safety tips as the thermometer dips below zero.

The utility said people should be sure to clear snow and ice from intake and exhaust vents to help avoid carbon monoxide buildup and operational issues with their appliances.

Space heaters should be used with caution, and placed on a hard, level surface away from anything flammable such as bedding, drapes, curtains or rugs.

All appliances and heating equipment – such as a furnace, water heater or stove – should be inspected to ensure they’re operating properly and within the manufacturer’s instructions.

A stove or oven should never be used as a source of heat, especially since ovens are designed to heat food, and should only be operated with the door closed. The utility also said people should not burn charcoal or run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space. Finally, the chimney should be cleaned and checked for blockage at least once a year before using your fireplace.

National Weather Service Pittsburgh advises homeowners to wrap or drain water pipes, or allow them to drip slowly, to prevent them from freezing.

Warming centers

Warming centers are open at locations throughout Washington County. The Salvation Army of Washington will open its warming center Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to anyone seeking shelter from the cold, and will provide hot and cold drinks, hot soup, and snacks. Cots and blankets are set up, and the Salvation Army will show movies and have board games and decks of cards available.

“Come on down. It is very, very cold outside, and we don’t want you to be out there in the elements, in the frigid temperatures,” said Lt. Thomas Perez of the Salvation Army. “This is for anybody who needs to get out of the cold.”

The Salvation Army has 20 cots set up and can add an additional 50 cots if necessary.

The Washington City Mission has made arrangements to aid those who may be in need during these frigid conditions, which will stay in effect as long as the arctic blast continues.

“We do have some emergency shelter,” said Diana Irey Vaughan, president/CEO of City Mission. “We also worked out an agreement for a hotel stay for just a couple of nights if that is required, if we don’t have room. We’re also working on warming stations during the day hours in our Samaritan Care.”

Irey Vaughan said anyone who is in need of shelter can come to Samaritan Care at the City Mission campus at 84 W. Wheeling St.

“They can come and knock on the door at Samaritan Care, which is on our campus, right beneath the arch, behind the chapel,” she said. “We have not yet been overwhelmed with individuals. We’ve been able to meet the needs.”

Debbie Doppelheuer, director of operation for City Mission in Fayette County, said the combination of the rising cost of housing and the recent frigid winter weather has had both the men and women’s shelters at full capacity.

“We’ve been running consistently full since the weather has turned,” Doppelheuer said. “We have a running list of people who we’ll call back once we get a bed open.”

Even at full capacity, Doppelheuer said City Mission will not turn people away and will work with other agencies, nonprofits and even local businesses to find a solution.

“Our goal is to be a problem solver and if we can’t help a person that comes to us, we’ll refer them to somewhere else,” Doppelheuer said. “We’re not going to say, ‘Oh, we’re full, come back later.’ We will stay with them and try to figure it out. We don’t want them on the streets, especially in this weather.”

Along with housing, Doppelheuer said the mission also provides clothing to their clients.

“Oftentimes our clients come to us with inadequate clothing; we have a storage facility to provide winter clothing,” she said.

The mission center in Uniontown is currently able to provide beds to 25 to 27 men and 12 women along with an emergency apartment that can accommodate four.

Charleroi Fire Department’s social hall is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a place to keep warm.

Chief Robert Whiten Jr. said there is some seating available but recommends bringing a chair to sit.

“We have no cots,” Whiten said. “We do have a TV. If they have a sleeping bag or an air mattress, they can lay on them or they can even lay on the floor. The place is clean as a whistle. We can make it work.”

Coffee and hot chocolate are available, as well as water.

Janice Carroll, Union Township manager, said the township building offers a chance to get in out of the cold for residents during business hours.

“Call 911 and they’ll set everything up through us,” she said.

Other available warming centers in Washington County include:

Bentleyville Borough, 900 Main St., 724-239-5588

Beth-Center Senior Center, Station Street, Vestaburg, 724-377-0000, open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Burgettstown Senior Center, 116 Main St., 724-947-9524, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Canonsburg Senior Center, 30 E.Pike St., 724-745-5443, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Center in the Woods, 130 Woodland Court, Brownsville, 724-938-3554

Charleroi Fire Department, 328 Fallowfield Ave., 724-489-7311, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Claysville Senior Center, 105 Green St., 724-663-4202, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cross Creek Senior Center, 28 Clark Ave., Avella, 724-587-5755, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donora Senior Center, 683 Meldon Ave., 724-379-6446

Finleyville Borough, 3562 Washington Ave., 724-986-2189

Union Township, 3905 Finley-Elrama Road, 724-348-8550, small pets welcome

Marianna Borough, 1 Procasky Road, 724-267-4444, 9 a.m to 5 p.m

McDonald/Cecil Senior Center, 3599 Millers Run Road, 724-743-1827, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monongahela Senior Center, 102 W. Main St., 724-258-9511

Riverside Place Senior Center, 303 Chamber Plaza, Charleroi, 724-483-5800

North Strabane Township, 1032 State Route 519, Eighty Four, 724-678-0964, 7 a.m. to midnight

Salvation Army, 60 E. Maiden St., Washington

South Strabane Township, 172 Oak Spring Road, 724-931-0553, call before coming (township residents only)

Thomas Campbell Center, 850 Beech St., Washington, 724-225-2290, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Washington Senior Center, 69 W. Maiden St., 724-222-8566. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Staff writer Karen Mansfield contributed to this story.

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