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Spate Of House Fires Plagues Polk County During Holidays

By BILLY TOWNSEND, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 3, 2008

LAKELAND - Home fires on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day brought to 11 the number of fires that have forced families from their homes in Polk County since Dec. 22, the Red Cross reported.

With temperatures dropping quickly and space heaters humming, the Red Cross and firefighters anticipate more trouble.

Fires typically increase during the winter, but Polk's spate of home fires during the Christmas holidays was "uncanny," said Phil Attinger, public relations director for the Polk County chapter of the Red Cross.

One woman, 46-year-old Karin Wright, died in a fire Dec. 27 at her mobile home near Polk City when she couldn't escape from her bedroom, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported.

The Lakeland Fire Department expects the fire calls to continue because of cold, dry conditions.

December, January and February are the peak months for house fires, accounting for nearly 44 percent of the annual total, said Heather McClanahan, the Polk County public safety spokeswoman.

Twenty-seven percent of house fires and 53 percent of house fire deaths are caused by keeping heating equipment too close to furniture, bedding or clothing, McClanahan said.
Lakeland Fire Department spokeswoman Cheryl Edwards said the department is equipped to handle whatever calls it receives and that no additional staffing is planned.

"We're always fully staffed," she said.

She said people need to remember a few safety rules:

•Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.

•Turn off space heaters when you leave home or go to sleep.

•Don't use space heaters to warm clothing.

•Don't use other heat-producing items such as to heat a room or home. "Your oven isn't made for that," Edwards said.

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.

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