HFD shares tips for staying safe, warm as winter approaches

Winter isn’t too far down the road, so the Hopkinsville Fire Department is reminding folks how to remain safe while staying warm.

When the temperatures become icy, the fire department often sees a spike in house fires as a result of unsafe heating methods, and in the past some of those fires were caused by space heaters. Lieutenant Nathan Stewart says space heaters should be plugged directly into the wall and be three feet away from any furniture.

Stewart says it’s also time for folks to replace the batteries on their smoke detectors. He says folks should check their smoke detectors monthly, and around daylight saving time changes folks are encouraged to change those batteries.

Those who live within Hopkinsville city limits can call the fire department to have new smoke detectors installed in their home or have the detector’s batteries replaced if they are unable to do so themselves.

Along with the safety tips, Stewart also highlighted the upcoming grand opening of Fire Station 5. In November 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony was hosted for the station at 101 Walton Way in southern Christian County, and the station is being constructed out of a preexisting building.

Stewart says the new fire station is massive and half of the space will be dedicated to hosting fire academy and EMT classes.

Currently, the department’s southernmost station in the county is Fire Station 4 located on Eagle Way Bypass. Stewart says the department covers up to Interstate 24, so the new station will allow crews to respond quicker to emergencies in that area and at the industrial parks.

The station’s grand opening is set for November 21. More information concerning the department is available at Hopkinsville Fire/EMS on Facebook.