Spartanburg County prepares for extreme cold weather

Tammie Millen reacts to the cold wind as she takes an exercise walk around the track at Blacksburg High School on Wednesday.

Weather forecasters are predicting blustery temperatures, prompting officials to issue heating safety tips and recommendations for residents to protect pipes, animals and to check on the elderly.

The National Weather Service is predicting an overnight low Wednesday of 13 degrees, with wind chills at zero or 5 below zero. Thursday, temperatures aren't expected to get above freezing with a high of 30 degrees and an overnight low of 19 degrees.

The weather service has issued a wind chill advisory from midnight Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday.

Most local hardware and department stores are sold out of outside faucet covers and cedar shavings used in dog houses. Store owners also said kerosene and space heaters are selling fast.

Charlie Patton, of Ace Hardware in Gaffney, said plenty of pipe insulation is available to protect exposed pipes and a few kerosene heaters remain in stock. Irwin Ace Hardware officials said they will likely receive a shipment of outdoor faucet covers Thursday morning.

The state fire marshal issued fire and heating safety tips Wednesday, urging people to check smoke alarms to make sure they work. People who can't afford a smoke alarm can call their local fire department to have an alarm installed, said Spartanburg Fire Chief Marion Blackwell.

State Fire Marshal Bert Polk said fire deaths increase 63 percent in the winter months.

Last year, there were 14 fire deaths in Spartanburg County a grave spike from prior years and twice as many as any other county statewide.

If you have a space heater, it's important to keep it at least 3 feet away from any furniture or equipment, Blackwell said. Many times, people want to put them close to the bed, but it can catch fire. A dog or cat can accidentally knock them over, too, so it's important to watch them carefully.

Continued here:
Spartanburg County prepares for extreme cold weather