A residential fire claimed the lives of three people in Arkabutla, according to authorities in Tate County.
Tate County Fire Coordinator Jim Huestis said the fire occurred Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the 2500 block of Bend Road at approximately 11:58 a.m.
Huestis said three people - ages 41, 68 and 75 - perished in the blaze.
Arkabutla and District 1 Volunteer Fire Departments responded.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the state fire marshal.
The community has experienced almost five days of very cold weather and, while what sparked this blaze is unknown, residents are urged to be cautious with heat sources.
Mississippi has one of the highest fire mortality rates in the nation. Half of all home heating fires in the U.S. occur in December, January and February, and 1-in-5 home fire deaths involves heating equipment, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Take these precautions to help keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires:
· Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source, such as fireplaces, space heaters, wood stoves and radiators.
· Never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from them.
· Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (like a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
· Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
· Have your chimney, heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced annually. Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly.
· Never use a gas oven to heat your house.
· Never run your vehicle inside a garage that is attached to the house.
· Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector near every sleeping area in your home, check their batteries monthly, change batteries annually, and have your furnaces and heaters inspected annually for carbon monoxide. Replace them every five years.
· Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings.
· If a fire occurs, get out of the house and then call 911.
· Teach children to get out of the house and not to worry about pets, games or household items.
· Direct firefighters to rooms with people inside when they arrive on the scene.
