Unfortunately with the extreme cold over the last few weeks, it has also been a busy time for local fire departments. Since Friday, December 29, area fire departments have responded to 8 significant or potentially significant fires. On Friday, the 29th, there was a report of a chimney fire but thankfully it turned out to be a blocked pipe backing smoke up into in the residence. The pipe was red hot but there was no fire. Later on the 29th, there was a car fire near Highway 23 and I-94. New Year’s Eve day saw the only fire that was not an issue. A brush fire was called in on Upper Spunk Lake but it turned out to be a recreational fire on the lake for some skaters. On New Year’s Day, the Paynesville Fire Department, St. Martin Fire Department and Chain of Lakes Fire Depart- ment responded to a residential fire in Roscoe. The house is considered a total loss and the cause of the fire is still being look ed at. No one was injured but the family has been displaced. On January 2, there was a car fire in Fairhaven Township. The owner of the car was having trouble getting it started in the cold and tried to warm it up with a propane heater. Also on the 2nd, Holding- ford Fire Department responded to a possible fire under a mobile home. There was no damage. Lastly, there were two larger fires later on in the day on January 2. The first was a barn fire that the Chain of Lakes Fire Department and Richmond Fire Depart- ment responded to in Luxemburg Township. Someone had been welding in the barn when a small fire started and extinguished itself prior to the fire departments arriving. There was minimal damage and the fire departments made sure everything was com- pletely extinguished. Several minutes later, the St. Martin Fire Department and Paynesville Fire Department responded to a house fire in Zion Township. There was a fire in the walls that was likely electrical in nature. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Whether the fires are related to cold weather or it’s just coincidental, it’s a good time to make sure your fire and CO alarms are working. If you have a fire extinguisher, make sure it is fully charged and if you have not had your furnace inspected recently, now may be a good time to have it checked. If you use space heaters or a wood stove, remember these present their own safety challenges and you should remain vigilant for any issues. Stay warm and safe! The Stearns County website offers additional information regarding fire information and preparedness.