Crime & Safety

Firefighters and Police Offer Safety Tips for the Fall

Whether burning leaves in the yard or logs in the family room fireplace, a few tips from the experts can keep you safe.

For many, fall's debut brings to mind the pleasant crunch of leaves under feet, the crackle of an evening fire and a pleasant autumn breeze. But to Lt. Mark Sickles of the Mokena Fire Protection District, these highlights of the season can turn dangerous if treated carelessly. Sickles gave Mokena Patch some tips to keep safe this fall. 

If you have a fireplace:

  • Look into having the chimney professionally cleaned every year if you use it regularly. "A lot of people don't realize that soot is combustible," Sickles said. People sometimes forget to open their flue before lighting the season's first fire, which can quickly fill the house with smoke, he said.
  • Keep the grille up while the fireplace is in use to prevent embers from blowing into the residence. A strong wind occasionally can blow down the chimney and push the fire into the room, so paper materials should be kept away from the fireplace, too. 
  • Keep at least a 30-inch distance between combustible materials and fireplaces, furnaces and hot water heaters. 
  • Do not burn construction materials in the fireplace. Burning anything except logs could cause the fire to overheat and cause damage.

As for those crunchy leaves, Sickles said residents should be aware of local ordinances before torching those freshly raked leaf piles. People who burn their leaves must be present while the burning takes place, he added, and must have a water source with them. And don't add construction material to the fire, Sickles said.

Find out what's happening in Mokenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With the school year in full swing, the Mokena Police Department has issued a tip sheet for parents to keep their children safe at school and on the way home.

Suggestions include having children report strangers on school grounds to teachers or administrators, telling children never to enter the car or home of someone they don't know, and never putting a child's name on the outside of his or her clothes. To read the complete list, download the document in the window that accompanies this story.

Find out what's happening in Mokenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sickles also mentioned back-to-school safety, and reminded motorists to obey the speed limit in school zones.

"The 20 mph speed limit is there for a reason," he said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.