As temperatures dip down closer to what’s normal for winter, Neebing’s emergency services department is advising motorists to ensure block heaters installed in cars and pickup trucks are up to snuff.
“While generally safe, block heaters can be a source of fire ignition,” the department warned this week in a social-media bulletin.
Safety tips include the following:
- If using an extension cord, make sure it’s Canadian Safety Association (CSA) approved and medium or heavy gauge wire.
- Power outlets used for plugging in block heaters should be grounded.
- Block heater cords should routinely be inspected for cracks and other signs of wear.
Meanwhile, Environment Canada said temperatures in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas today should reach -15 C today, about four degrees below normal for this time of year.
“It’s going to be cold, but not a polar-vortex kind of cold,” Ottawa- based meteorologist Peter Kimbell said on Tuesday.
But the cold won’t last. The mercury is set to rise to -4 C in the city on Thursday. Kimbell said some snow is in the forecast for Thunder Bay, but not in significant amounts.
In December, the city received 33.5 millimetres of precipitation in the form of snow or rain, about four millimetres less than the normal amount for that month.
