Firefighters around the valley have been getting a lot of calls lately. Most of them are from homeowners who are turning on their heaters for the first time in months.
Wayne Halsey knows what it's like to have no heat coming out of the vent in the house.
"It just gave out. I was sitting in here at 40 degrees, getting home at night with my little electric heater and my sleeping bag," says Halsey.
Before Halsey turned on the heater, he hired an expert to check it out.
"I've gotten calls for smoke issues because of a motor burning out or wires catching on fire," says technician Brent Rademaker.
Rademaker with Hobaica Services checked Halsey's unit inside and outside, and made sure there was no debris in the vents.
It's something valley firefighters encourage everyone to do, for good reason.
"People turn them on just because it gets cold. They don't get it serviced, then all of a sudden they smell smoke and the alarms go off," says Phoenix Fire Capt. Larry Nunez.
In a 24 hour period between the 11th & 12th of November, firefighters got 58 calls about smoke alarms going off. It was a record.
"It's just the alarms going off at this point. Some of these units can cause a fire. If they have not been serviced they can start a fire," says Nunez.
Servicing a heating unit doesn't take much time, and isn't expensive. As Halsey would say, it gives you peace of mind.
Firefighters are asking homeowners to keep the vents in their homes clean to avoid fires and false alarms.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:42:40 GMT
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its animatronics dinosaur exhibit. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals. The ride
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its exhibit of animatronics. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:20:11 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
Thursday, May 23 2013 3:18 PM EDT2013-05-23 19:18:28 GMT
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:43:15 GMT
Kerry Kennedy has joined farmworkers protesting outside Wendy's shareholder meeting in Manhattan.
Kerry Kennedy has joined farmworkers protesting outside Wendy's shareholder meeting in Manhattan. The protesters said Thursday they want Wendy's to sign an agreement to safeguard working conditions for Florida tomato pickers.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:55:29 GMT
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:07:03 GMT
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police. The incident Monday night involved two men, who police say, had met at the Bowery Mission and went out drinking together in the East Village. Roman Gornell, 39, was arrested on Wednesday.
