Preparing Home Heating & Fire Prevention Week Preview

Late-September Safety: Preparing Home Heating & Fire Prevention Week Preview

​As we wrap up September here in Central Illinois, autumn has officially arrived. While harvest operations continue across our district, cool evening temperatures mean many families are starting to turn on their home heating systems.

​With National Fire Prevention Week just around the corner in October, the New Holland Fire Department wants to help our community get a head start on fall home safety.

​1. Safely Transitioning to Fall Heating

​Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires as temperatures drop. A quick pre-season check can prevent unexpected issues:

• ​Test Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms: Gas furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters produce carbon monoxide—an odorless, invisible gas. Ensure you have working CO detectors installed on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.
• ​Inspect Central Furnaces: Replace dirty air filters before turning your heat on for the first time. Have a professional technician inspect your unit to ensure burners and exhaust flues are functioning safely.
• ​Maintain Space Heater Clearance: If using portable space heaters to take off the autumn chill, keep them at least 3 feet away from bedding, curtains, and furniture. Always plug space heaters directly into wall outlets rather than extension cords or power strips.

​2. Look Ahead: Fire Prevention Week (Oct 4–10)

​Mark your calendars! The upcoming National Fire Prevention Week focuses on safe charging practices for lithium-ion battery devices—from smartphones and laptops to cordless yard tools.

​Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing simple ways to ensure your household electronics stay safe while powering up.

​Free Home Smoke Detector Program:

Before cold weather settles in, check the manufacture date on the back of your home's smoke alarms. Detectors older than 10 years lose their ability to detect smoke reliably and must be replaced.

​Through our "Be Alarmed!" program, the New Holland Fire Department provides and installs free 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke detectors for all residents within our fire protection district.

​Schedule your free installation: Call us today at (217) 445-2341 or visit newhollandfire.com.

​Enjoy the crisp fall weather and stay safe, New Holland! In any emergency, never hesitate to dial 911 immediately.

Fall Home Heating & Chimney Safety

Fall Home Heating & Chimney Safety: Preparing for the Cooler Months Ahead

​As late-summer warm spells begin to fade, cool autumn nights are just around the corner in Central Illinois. Before we turn on the furnace or light up the fireplace for the first time this season, the New Holland Fire Department encourages all residents to take a few proactive steps to ensure their home heating systems are safe and efficient.

​Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the fall and winter months. Fortunately, most home heating fires are easily preventable with basic maintenance and safe operating habits.

​1. Schedule Annual Heating System Maintenance

​Whether your home uses a central furnace, a wood-burning stove, or a fireplace, get your systems inspected before the first cold drop in temperature.

• ​Inspect Chimneys & Flues: Creosote—a highly flammable byproduct of burning wood—can build up inside chimneys over time. Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean your chimney annually to prevent dangerous flue fires.
• ​Service Your Furnace: Have a qualified technician inspect your furnace, burners, and heat exchanger to ensure proper operation and prevent carbon monoxide leaks.
• ​Change Air Filters: Replace furnace air filters regularly. Clogged filters restrict airflow, forcing the system to work harder and potentially overheat.

​2. Space Heater Safety Basics

​Portable space heaters are convenient for taking the chill off a room, but they require strict attention when in use.

• ​The 3-Foot Rule: Keep anything that can burn—including curtains, bedding, furniture, rugs, and clothing—at least 3 feet away from all space heaters.
• ​Plug Directly into Wall Outlets: Never use an extension cord or power strip with a space heater. Space heaters draw heavy electrical current, which can easily overheat an extension cord and cause an electrical fire.
• ​Turn Them Off When Leaving: Always shut off and unplug space heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.

​3. Fireplace & Ash Disposal Caution

​Enjoying a warm fire on a crisp evening is a fall staple, but proper ash management is crucial.

• ​Use a Fireplace Screen: Always place a sturdy metal screen or glass door in front of the fireplace to catch floating embers and flying sparks.
• ​Cool Ashes Completely: Coals and ashes can retain hidden heat for days after a fire appears to be out.
• ​Safe Ash Disposal: Never deposit ashes into plastic trash cans, cardboard boxes, or bags. Place cooled ashes into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, douse them with water, and store the container outdoors at least 10 feet away from your house, garage, or deck.

​Free Smoke Detector Program:

​If your home's smoke alarms are older than 10 years, they need complete replacement. Through the "Be Alarmed!" program, the New Holland Fire Department provides and installs free 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke detectors for all residents within our district.

​Schedule your free installation: Call us at (217) 445-2341 or visit newhollandfire.com.




​Stay warm and stay safe, New Holland! If you smell gas, suspect a carbon monoxide issue, or experience any emergency, leave the house immediately and dial 911.

Mid-September Fire Safety: Grain Bin Safety & Fall Debris Management

Mid-September Fire Safety: Grain Bin Safety & Fall Debris Management

​With harvest activity in full swing across Logan County this mid-September, the New Holland Fire Department is focusing on two critical safety areas for the weeks ahead: grain storage safety on the farm and safe disposal of fall yard debris around the home.

​Taking proactive steps during this busy time helps ensure our community stays safe both in the fields and in town.

​1. Grain Bin & Silo Safety

​Grain handling involves specialized hazards, from grain dust explosion risks to mechanical entanglements and grain entrapment.

• ​Manage Grain Dust: Combustible grain dust is highly explosive when suspended in the air in enclosed spaces. Regularly sweep and vacuum grain legs, tunnels, and headhouses to keep dust accumulations below 1/16 of an inch.
• ​Lockout/Tagout Gear: Never enter a grain bin without locking out and tagging all unloading equipment, augers, and sweep systems to prevent accidental startup.
• ​Never Enter Flowing Grain: Moving grain acts like quicksand. If entry is absolutely necessary, always use a harness and lifeline, and never enter a bin alone—have a trained observer outside the bin in constant communication.

​2. Fall Yard Debris & Outdoor Burning

​As trees begin dropping leaves and late-summer yard cleanups continue, outdoor burning requires extra caution due to dry vegetation and shifting fall winds.

• ​Check Local Regulations & Weather: Before starting any open burn, check wind speeds and humidity levels. Avoid burning on dry, windy afternoons when embers can easily travel to nearby fields or structures.
• ​Maintain Clear Margins: Keep burn piles at least 50 feet away from any structures, trees, or unharvested crop fields. Clear a 10-foot dirt perimeter around the pile.
• ​Stay with the Fire: Never leave an open burn unattended. Keep a hose connected to a water supply, or have a tractor with a blade nearby until the fire is completely extinguished.

​Free Home Smoke Detector Program:

While reviewing safety protocols for your farm or yard, remember to check your home's smoke alarms. Smoke detectors lose sensitivity after 10 years and require full replacement.

​Through the "Be Alarmed!" program, the New Holland Fire Department provides and installs free 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke alarms for all residents within our district.

​Schedule your free installation: Call us at (217) 445-2341 or email us at firehouse@newhollandfire.com.




​Stay safe in the fields and at home, New Holland! In any emergency, dial 911 immediately.

September Harvest Safety

September Harvest Safety: Protecting Farm Machinery and Rural Property

​As September kicks into high gear across Logan County, harvest season is officially beginning for our agricultural community. Long days in the field with combines, tractors, and grain trucks are vital to New Holland, but they also bring an increased risk of agricultural fires. Dry crop residue, high operating temperatures, and windy early-autumn days create ideal conditions for field and equipment fires.

​The New Holland Fire Department wants to remind our local farmers, operators, and farm families of essential safety practices to ensure a productive and safe harvest season.

​1. Equipment Cleanup & Daily Maintenance

​Accumulated chaff and dust on hot engine parts are the leading causes of combine and tractor fires.

• ​Daily Blow-Downs: Use compressed air or a leaf blower at the end of each shift to thoroughly clear crop dust, chaff, and debris from engine compartments, exhaust manifolds, and belt drives.
• ​Inspect Fuel and Hydraulic Lines: Check for cracked hoses or leaking fittings. A high-pressure hydraulic leak atomizing onto a hot exhaust pipe can ignite in seconds.
• ​Monitor Bearings and Belts: Overheated bearings and slipping drive belts generate intense friction heat. Pay attention to unusual noises, burning smells, or hot spots during operation.

​2. Extinguisher Readiness in the Field

​When a fire breaks out in a dry field or machine, having the right equipment immediately on hand can save a crop or a million-dollar piece of machinery.

• ​Carry Two Extinguishers: Mount one 10 lb ABC multi-purpose extinguisher inside the cab and another easily accessible at ground level on the exterior of the machine.
• ​Check the Pressure Gauges: Verify that gauges are in the green and safety seals are intact before pulling into the field.
• ​Invert Monthly: Invert and shake your extinguishers periodically to prevent the dry chemical powder from packing down due to field vibration.

​3. Field Management & Emergency Response

​Planning ahead makes a significant difference when seconds count.

• ​Know Your Location: Ensure every operator and family member knows the precise field location, farm entrance number, or nearest rural road intersection to give 911 dispatchers.
• ​Stage Tillage Equipment: Keep a tractor hooked up to a disk or chisel plow near the field edge. If a fire starts, creating a quick dirt break downwind can contain the spread until firefighters arrive.
• ​Watch the Wind: Avoid performing hot work—such as field welding or grinding—on low-humidity, high-wind afternoons.

​Free Home Smoke Detector Installation:

While prepping your harvest machinery, don't forget to check your home's fire defenses! Smoke detectors lose reliability after 10 years and need complete replacement.

​Through our "Be Alarmed!" program, the New Holland Fire Department provides and installs free 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke alarms for all residents within our fire district.

​Schedule your free installation: Call us at (217) 445-2341 or visit newhollandfire.com.




​Have a safe, smooth, and plentiful harvest, New Holland! If an emergency occurs in the field or at home, dial 911 immediately.