Adair Park

Winter is definitely in FULL swing. As I stood in the street, bundled up with gloves and a scarf and scraped off my windshield to head to work this morning, I was thinking about all the ways Adair Park neighbors are also trying to stay warm. Fulton County Fire officials offer these cold weather safety tips. Stay inside and stay warm!

The Fulton County Fire and Rescue Department is urging residents to take safety precautions when heating their home this fall and winter. There are important factors to consider whether you are heating your home with a fireplace, space heater or a wood stove.

Fireplaces
– Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned regularly.
– Keep the area around the hearth clear of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
– Leave the glass fireplace doors open while you are burning a fire. Close the doors only when the fire is out.
– Always use a mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have glass doors.
– Do not use excessive amounts of paper when lighting, and do not use liquid fire starter.
– Keep firewood at least 30 feet from your home.
– Keep the roof clear of levaes, and remove branches hanging above the chimney.

Space Heaters
– Only use space heaters that will turn off automatically if they fall over.
– Avoid storing objects on top of space heaters.
– Keep combustible materials at least three feet away from space heaters.
– Always unplug space heaters when not in use.

Wood Stoves
– Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
– Keep air inlets on wood stoves open.
– Use fire resistant materials around wood stoves.

One of the best ways to protect your home from fire is to install a smoke detector on each level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Residents are encouraged to test their smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries every six months.

Great line from Van Morrison’s “Moondance”, but not pleasant when you walk outside and see a mass of leaves covering your lawn, house, car, sidewalk, street, etc.! Yes, fall in GA can be fun, but the leaf cleanup is not always a blast. Here are some tips from the City Of Atlanta’s Public Works Department for yard trimmings.

The City of Atlanta’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will pick up all yard trimmings which include grass, leaves, pine straw, Christmas trees, nursery vegetative materials, and small branches not exceeding four feet in length and six inches in diameter. Only paper yard disposal bags should be used to store trimmings. Plastic bags with trimmings will not be collected. Yard bags are available at home improvement stores. A container clearly marked “yard trimmings” may also be used.

If your trash collection day is Monday or Tuesday, your yard trimmings collection is on the first and third week of the month. If your trash collection day is Wednesday or Thursday, your yard trimmings collection takes place on the second and fourth week of the month. Actual pick-up can occur any day during the work week. For more information call 404.330.6333 or email publicworks@atlantaga.gov.