HFD provides safety tips, invites the community to donate gifts

As the cold temperatures continue and Christmas approaches, Nathan Stewart and Payton Rogers from the Hopkinsville Fire Department appeared on WHOP to provide some winter safety tips and to encourage the community to donate holiday gifts to local children.

Each year, the department partners with the Hopkinsville Salvation Army to provide holiday gifts for families in need. The donation deadline is Friday and Rogers says they are planning to provide gifts for kids in 50 families. Those interested in donating can drop off unwrapped gifts to the department headquarters at 112 Phillip Meacham Way.

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without some icy temperatures, so Stewart and Rogers reminded folks to watch out for ice patches while walking and to fully defrost their car windshield before driving anywhere to avoid any possible accidents.

The pair also emphasized the importance of plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets and not into power strips. Rogers says last year the department responded to 11 fires in one month that started because of space heaters. Stewart says power strips are not able to handle the amount of electricity that space heaters require which could start electrical fires.

To keep up with the department’s safety tips visit Hopkinsville Fire/EMS on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of the Hopkinsville Fire Department