The Seguin fire chief understands the importance of keeping animals warm during the cold, but says, “extra precautions are needed when using heat lamps.”
SEGUIN, Texas — Starting on Tuesday, the Seguin Fire Department responded to three separate deadly heat lamp fires in the span of 48 hours.
Around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, firefighters responded to reports of a chicken coup fire. Fire officials say the heat lamp the owner was using to keep his chickens warm sparked a fire, leading to the death of all of the chickens inside the coup.
Then around 9 a.m. that same morning, SFD responded to a garage fire on Huber Road. Upon arrival, fire officials say the detached garage was engulfed in flames. A car was destroyed and another vehicle that was nearby was also damaged. SFD says icy roads delayed their response, but they say a heat lamp to keep the homeowners two dogs warm is believed to have started the fire, leading to the death of both dogs.
Finally on Wednesday afternoon, SFD responded to reports of a structure fire on Weber Road. Fire officials said this was a two-story split home and one side was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. Officials said the homeowner want back inside and saved two dogs, but a third died in the fire. Again, SFD says a heat lamp is expected to be the source of the fire.
Seguin Fire Chief Dale Skinner understands the importance of keeping animals warm during the cold, but says, “extra precautions are needed when using heat lamps.” He went on to say protective cages should be placed around heat lamps and that they should be placed in locations where they cant be tipped over or possibly catch flammable items on fire, such as curtains and bed sheets.
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