2014 winter survival guide
DESCRIPTION
Fairbanks, Alaska, winters are long, cold and dark. Readers give advice on how to survive, and thrive, in the winters, plus winter clothing tips and car care.TRANSCRIPT
2014-2015
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
READER ADVICE » 2TAKING CARE OF CHIMNEYS » 3WHAT TO HAVE IN A WINTER CAR KIT » 4 CARING FOR PETS IN COLD WEATHER » 5
INSIDE:
2 Sunday, October 5, 2014Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Cushman at Van Horn • 452-7131 Limited to Stock on Hand
18511
948-1
0-5
-14W
S
The Bilzzak DM-V1 stands out from other winter tires due to its versatility. The new Tube Multi-Cell and NanoPro-Tech rubber compound help improve snow, ice, wet and dry performance by making the tire more flexible to changes in conditions.
With its new Multi-Cell compound and advanced 3-D Sipe technology, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 delivers improved snow and slush performance, and is a reliable ride in icy conditions. It’s a tire that will help get you to your destination-regardless of the weather forecast.
All Bridgestone & Blizzak Snow Tires
on Sale along with
$70 Visa Gift Card!
See store for details.
BLIZZAK
18511943-10-5-14WS
1817 College Rd. • 907-452-3455 • 1-800-478-3455 www.alaskafuncenter.com
How much can I plow? How much can I plow? Depends. How much you got? Depends. How much you got?
A L AS K A F UN CENTER A L AS K A F UN CENTER A L AS K A F UN CENTER
PL O WS . . . PL O WS . . . PL O WS . . . and the Grizzlies to push them! and the Grizzlies to push them!
WARN Provantage Side by Side Plow System In stock and ready to play. Your job just got easier.
WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
What’s your best advice for avoiding winter mishaps?You know how we’re
all supposed to learn from the mistakes of
others? Well, perhaps our new Interior Alaska resi-dents can learn from the winter survival mistakes of those of us who have lived around here for a while.
We went to our Facebook page to ask readers to fess up or offer advice.
Read on and learn. And laugh a bit, too.Rod BoyceMANAGING EDITOR
… While you may be able to drive on the hard-pack rails all winter, the fuel truck cannot. Sometimes it’s not about whether or not you can get in and out of your driveway but whether someone else can.Kerynn Fisher
When getting the ice off your window, do not hit it with the ice scraper. When your car warms and you close the door, your win-dow will shatter. Be patient with it.Ember Kalama
Shovel your driveway. Just do it. You might think you’re so clever driving on two feet of hard pack while your neighbors kill their backs shoveling, but in early April, when their driveway is bare and yours looks like soup, and your car practi-cally floats in and out of the garage, you will regret it.Amanda Myhand
I let my laundry deter-gent freeze in my car my first winter here and had to run it under hot water at
the laundromat.Liz Peterson
Always check to make sure the house door is unlocked before you run out
to start the car in the morn-ing. Or better yet, stash a spare key someplace. There is nothing like trying to break into your own home at -30 while wearing paja-
mas and slippers.Corrie Kossow Garrison
Pull your windshield wip-ers off the window before you park for the night. And don’t forget the rear one if you have a hatchback.Maggie Billington
Always carry a flare when going snowmachining. It’s the best way to light a fire when it’s -20, you fell through a river, and you have to wait 18.5 hours for help while you’re attempt-ing to walk 40 miles out.Christopher Morse
Don’t touch doorknobs with your bare hands in 60 below. It doesn’t feel good.Chrissy Fanslau
Make sure your hair and/
or beard are completely dry before going outside. Noth-ing is more uncomfortable than suddenly having a block of ice on your face.D.J. Tyson
Don’t leave your diaper bag in your car at any point during the winter. Defrost-ing baby wipes on demand is almost impossible.Corinne Gould
Always keep an extra blanket and boots in your vehicle. You never know when and where you may break down or get stuck in snow.Flores Carol
Plug your vehicles in. Use good oil and battery
TIPS » 4
The thermometer sign outside the AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union Mortgage offices on the Old Steese Highway display the sub-zero temperature on Dec. 2, 2003. ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER
3Sunday, October 5, 2014 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
By Elena SudduthFOR THE NEWS-MINER
A s t h e c o l d s e a s o n approaches, the necessi-ty to warm up the hous-es arrives. A lot of houses in the Fairbanks area use chimneys as the main heat resource. Every year, a lot of homeowners lose every-thing in house fires caused by improper chimney care. There are some guidelines that, if properly followed, can help avoiding these sit-uations.
First and foremost, your chimney should be inspect-ed at least once per year and be swept by necessi-ty. This reduces the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings because of cre-osote buildup or obstruc-tions in the chimneys.
N e x t , g o o d , d r y ,
non-treated wood should be used. Burning wet wood causes the creosote to built up faster which becomes the main reason chimney fires.
Last, but not least, it is important a wood stove is installed according to the manufacturer’s recommen-dation.
Offered below is a list of questions chimney owners should know the answers to stepping into the winter:
Q: How often should I get my chimney cleaned?
A: “From one load of wood to the next, the amount of creosote that builds up is never the same,” said Chief Jack Willard from Chena Gold-stream Fire and Rescue. “This is why homeowners should clean their chim-
neys on regular bases,” he added.
The National Fire Pro-tection Association Stan-dard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, free-dom from deposits, and correct clearances. Clean-ing, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if nec-essary.”
So while it may not be necessary to pay for a cleaning every year, hav-ing you chimney inspected every year is a good idea. You should keep in mind that even if you don’t use your chimney too much, small birds could have made nests or small ani-mals could have fallen into it.
Our restoration services include: Water Damage • Fire/Smoke • Pack-Out of Content
24 Hour Emergency Services
10510824-1
0-5
-14W
S
Guaranteed Professional Service
458-8304 458-8304 458-8304
Free Estimates Free Estimates Free Estimates
HOME WEATHERIZATION
The weatherization program provides weatherization work on houses, apartments,
& mobile homes for qualified households.
Renters and homeowners with low to moderate income may be eligible for thermal doors, windows, insulation, air-sealing, weather-stripping and heating system repair and replacement at absolutely no cost. Save money on your fuel and electric bills! The paperwork is extremely simple!
Call Interior Weatherization, Inc .
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Funded by Alaska Housing Finance Corp., US Dept. of Energy
13510864-10-5-14WS
A household is automatically eligible if any household resident documents receipt of SSI, Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), ATAP, TANF, Senior Care Benefits, APA/IA or Food Stamps. Homes weatherized before April 2008, are eligible to be re-weatherized.
Annual Income Guidelines
Size Household
$54,200 61,900 69,600 77,300
$64,000 73,100 82,200 91,300
Denali Borough
Nenana & Delta
today for details! 452-5323 or Long Distance 1-800-478-5323, ext. 0 713 15th Avenue, Fairbanks
Download application at: www.interiorwx.org
Max. Income FNSB
$51,700 59,100 66,500 73,800
1 2 3 4
WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
Proper chimney care saves houses
CHIMNEY » 6
4 Sunday, October 5, 2014Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
13510862-1
0-5
-14W
S
Remember Remember Remember last winter’s last winter’s last winter’s
power outages power outages power outages and misery? and misery? and misery?
Don’t be left in Don’t be left in Don’t be left in the cold and the cold and the cold and
darkness again! darkness again! darkness again!
Samson’s has Samson’s has Samson’s has what you will what you will what you will need to be need to be need to be totally totally totally
prepared prepared prepared this winter. this winter. this winter.
AXES
CANNERS
COPPER TUBING
LOG MILLS
MEAT GRINDERS
CANNING JARS
BOW SAWS
NUTS &
BOLTS
WOOD STOVES
TRAPS
CHAIN SAWS
STOVE PIPE
STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES
GAS LIGHTS
GAS CANS
SAMSON HARDWARE
1990 Phillips Field Rd. • 452-3110 M-F 8-6 • Sat. 9-3 • 1-800-478-1085 • FAX 451-8036 [email protected] • www.saamsonhardware.com
110 Winters’
experience!
CAST IRON COOKWARE
GALVANIZED TUBS PITCHER
PUMPS
OIL LAMPS AND
LANTERNS
PEAVY & CANT
HOOKS
LUGGABLE LOO
DRAW SHAVES
Fall 2014 Tuesday Tastings
Held each Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Classes taught by Kathleen Lavelle Certified Wine Specialist by the Society of Wine Educators
Certified Wine Professional by the Culinary Institute of America Wine Educator for UAF
450-0555
575 First Avenue
www.lavellesbistro.com
10509458-10-5-14WS
heaters. Don’t ruin a new vehicle because you’re too lazy or cheap to get your rig winterized.Sarah Black
Always have a chain and shovel so if you do get stuck in the snow like my husband last winter
more than once, you can either get pulled out or dig your way out. And always have extra clothes, blanket, gloves, hats, hand and foot warmers — those things are awe-some.Sarah E Genetti
Don’t leave a glass bot-tle of vinegar in the cup holder of your back seat. Airing out your car out in
-40 isn’t easy.Curea Salle
Don’ t scrape your windshield with met-al (i.e. pop can). It will scratch the windshield. Sarah Solski Madsen
Never use your debit/credit card to scrape your car window, no matter how desperate you are.Kristen Q Thomas
TIPSContinued from 2 Cars need survival kits, too
By Robin [email protected]
During wicked winter weather, a simple trip to the store can bring compli-cations only Alaskans truly understand.
When traveling outside of town or on side roads being prepared becomes even more imperative. It’s essential to keep a winter survival kit in your car.
Put emergency items in a tub and store it within the car’s main compartment. If stuck in a snow bank, a trunk or truck canopy may be inaccessible. It’s import-ant to keep the gas tank at least half full, both in case of emergency and to pre-vent water condensation being sucked through fuel lines.
As with any emergency
situation, it’s best to stay put. Cars are great sources of shelter and easier to spot than just a person. If stuck, only run the car for 10 min-utes per hour because snow can trap deadly carbon monoxide inside the car. Crack a window and keep snow clear of the exhaust pipe. Turn on emergency flashers and conserve bat-tery power.
The following should be included in any winter car kit:
To stay warm and fed• Keep outer gear suit-
able for a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes exposure. Include extra socks, hats, gloves and base layers. Avoid cotton because when it provides zero insulation when wet.
• Have the ability to make
a fire with multiple means: wind- and water-proof matches, a lighter or flint and steel. Stuff an empty toilet paper tube with toi-let paper for an emergency fire starter.
• Enough blankets or sleeping bags to provide for the car occupants for extended periods of time.
• High energy, non-perishable food such as can-dy, energy bars or trail mix.
• Water and the ability to melt snow, like an empty coffee can and a small stove with fuel.
To stay safe• A first aid kit, extra
medications and pocket knife.
• Flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries.
CAR KIT » 7
WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
5Sunday, October 5, 2014 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Call: 456-2536 Call: 456-2536 Call: 456-2536
751Williams Gate (Off Old Richardson Hwy at Greer Tank)
18511940 10-10-14WS
IANT TIRE R a i n , s n o w o r h i g h w a t e r R a i n , s n o w o r h i g h w a t e r
w e ’ l l g o t h e e x t r a m i l e w e ’ l l g o t h e e x t r a m i l e t o f i n d t h e r i g h t t i r e s t o f i n d t h e r i g h t t i r e s
f o r y o u . . . . . f o r y o u . . . . .
New tires & wheels... all cars & trucks
• Studding • Siping • Mount &Balance
ROAD SERVICE TOO!
QUICK
SERVI
CE
QUICK
SERVI
CE
USED
TIRE PR
OFESSIO
NALS
USED
TIRE PR
OFESSIO
NALS
By Robin [email protected]
When it comes to cold weather care for pets, it pays to pay attention.
People have many breeds and varieties of pets, all requiring tailored treat-ments. And when the tem-perature drops below zero, or perhaps reaches 50 below, appropriate care is critical.
For outside animals — dogs, horses or other live-stock — shelter, non-frozen water and enough food for fuel are minimum require-ments. The most important thing for inside animals is not to forget when they are outside as frostbite or hypothermia can result from mere minutes in sub-freezing temperatures.
Outside animal houses should be small enough
that their body heat warms the space, but big enough to lie down in. Line the floor with straw for insula-tion and insure the shelter provides protection from wind, rain or snow.
Sandy Klimaschesky, shelter operations supervi-
sor at Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Control, said hay or blankets alone are not adequate bedding for doghouses.
“Hay tends to compress really easy, where straw is hollow and lofty so it holds that heat in,” she said.
Assistant tate Veterinar-ian Dr. Jay Fuller recom-mends placing dog houses against the wall of a house to absorb ambient heat.
Simply eating snow will not provide pets with ade-quate hydration because takes significant energy to
melt snow to a liquid. One technique to keep outside animals hydrated is com-bine food and water in the same bowl.
Fur coats, stores of body fat, activity level and gen-eral health all affect an ani-mal’s ability to reside out-
side. Ears are usually the first appendages to show symptoms of frost bite. Paws, noses and tails also show signs quickly. During warm temperatures cats and dogs may find puddles
All pets, inside and out, need special care in cold winter months
Left: Emmie, a 2-year-old lab/husky mix, gets a grip on a frisbee as she plays with her owner outside the Arctic Health Research Building on March 5, 2008. Right: Simba, a 4-year-old Cardigan Welsh corgi who stands less than a foot tall at the shoulder, bounds through the fresh snow while taking a walk with his owner John Waiste, of Fairbanks, along the West Tanana Farm Road on Feb. 12, 2001. ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER
PET CARE » 7
READER PET ADVICE:
If you have livestock or keep straw/hay to use as feed/bedding, do your best to make sure it’s inacces-sible by moose, and look for them! I almost walked right into the backside of one once because it had its head craned through our hay shed panels trying to get at our hay.Elli Kaliko Oba
WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
6 Sunday, October 5, 2014Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
From warm homes to warm smiles,
Crowley delivers. When it’s cold outside,
we’ll make sure you have the fuel you
need, when you need it. Home heating
fuel, propane – and our auto-fi ll program
that can save you both time and money.
And we’ll deliver it all to Fairbanks and
surrounding communities with the warm,
friendly service we’re known for. This
winter, count on Crowley to keep you
warm. Give us a call today.
CROWLEY FUELS
WARM SERVICEHOME HEATING FUEL & PROPANE
907.328.4500170 E. Van Horn Rd.Crowley.com/Fairbanks
Q: Who should I hire to sweep my chimney?
A: The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that people consider a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. According to CSIA website, there is only one person who is certified by them in Fairbanks. His name is Clinton Severns and he works for The Woodway.
In the North Pole, Cary Freeman, with the Fire-safe Chimney service is also CSIA certified. These chim-ney sweeps have earned the industry’s most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the con-struction and maintenance of chimney and venting sys-tems, CSIA web site explains.
Q: When should I clean
my chimney?A: Severns recommends
that the homeowners get their chimney cleaned during the offseason, that is, for the company he works for from April 1 to July 31. Don’t wait until you have to start reusing your chimney, since that time of year the sweepers are booked out and definitely don’t start using it before it has been inspected.
Q: What is the creo-sote?
A: The creosote is a nat-ural byproduct of wood burning. It condenses on the surfaces of stove pipes or chimney flues. When it condenses, it tends to trap carbon from smoke, which makes it highly flammable.
Q: What type of wood should I burn?
A: Clinton Severns rec-ommends that people burn dry wood, with less than 20 percent moisture content.
The wood you use should be cut at least 6 months prior to using it and it should be properly stored. That means that it should not be exposed to rain or snow, since it would reab-sorb the moisture and have open sides, so the air could circulate and allow drying.
Q: What else should I know?
A: According to the Che-na Goldstream Fire and Rescue, the time of year that most chimney fires are registered is after the warm up around Christmas and New Year when people shut their stoves down because they don’ t need them. When it gets cold again that’s when the creosote builds up faster and that’s causing the most fires.Elena Sudduth is a journalism student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an intern at the News-Miner. Contact the newsroom at 459-7572.
CHIMNEYContinued from 3
WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
7Sunday, October 5, 2014 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Cushman at Van Horn • 452-7131 Limited to Stock on Hand
ALL COOPER WINTER TIRES!
Weathermaster S/T 2
Discoverer M+S
18511947-10-5-14WS
Through November 31, 2014
ON SALE NOW!
3000 watts/25.0 amps. Clean power, quiet, plus power boost
make this the ultimate portable generator on wheels.
Quiet 51.5 DBA noise rating at 1/4 load. Maximum output
61 DBA. Up to 10 hours of run time. Weighs only 44 lbs!
907-452-3455 ALASKA FUN CENTER • www.alaskafuncenter.com
EF2000iS EF3000iSEB EF7200D
1817 College Rd Fairbanks
18511945-10-5-14WS
POWER UP WITH YAMAHA GENERATORS!
120v or 240v. Econo switch, 30 amp RV outlet Electric Start.
or unfrozen water, get wet and become more suscepti-ble to hypothermia.
Indoor animals, especial-ly those new to Alaska and unacclimated to cold tem-peratures, are more suscep-tible to hypothermia.
Donna Buck-Davis, direc-tor of the nonprofit Loving
Companions Animals Res-cue, said if the animal isn’t outside on a 24-hour basis it shouldn’t be left out when it’s cold. “You wouldn’t put your kid outside in the cold, so I wouldn’t put my animal outside either,” Buck-Davis said.
Owners can set up an emergency shelter where small pets may take ref-uge if they get left out an extended period of time.
O t h e r l e s s - c o m m o n issues are still problematic during cold weather.
Both domesticated and feral animals have been known to climb inside vehicle-engine compart-ments for warmth only to be killed or injured when the car is started. Keep tabs on small pets or bang on the hood to scare would-be homesteaders.
Antifreeze has a sweet
taste that animals may like, but the liquid is poisonous and can be deadly. Quickly clean spills and keep con-tainers in secure areas. The Propylene glycol formula is less poisonous than ethanol glycol.
Not all cold-weather care is agreed upon. For example, some people think horse blankets help provide insulation, while others believe they mat
the horse’s hair, decreasing insulation. It always helps to consult with people who have extensive cold-weath-er animal care.
Klimaschesky said the shelter has cold-weather care brochures at the shel-ter, covering house pets to livestock. Contact staff writer Robin Wood at 459-7510. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMcity.
PET CAREContinued from 5
• Emergency radio and extra batteries
• Emergenc y f lares , reflectors and distress flags.
• A 12-volt cell phone charger.
• A whistle.
To stay on the road• Ice scraper and snow
brush. • Small shovel.• Tow ropes or chains. • Road salt, sand or cat
litter for traction. • Jumper cables. • Fuel line deicer. Don’t forget to periodi-
cally inspect fluids, tires, lights and battery.Contact staff writer Robin Wood at 459-7510. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMcity.
CAR KITContinued from 4
WHAT NOT TO KEEP IN THE CAR:
Don’t forget yourb e e r i n y o u r c a r b e c a u s e w h e n i t explodes everywhere and you get pulled over, the cops will surely be pulling you out of the car for sobri-ety checks because of the overwhelming smell.Katrina Johnson
Don’t forget your purple energy drink in the glove compart-ment with important documents you need the next day. The offic-es won’t be happy with your purple, sticky papers caused by the exploded can!Daphne Pettie
WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
8 Sunday, October 5, 2014Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Paid Advertising Content
COMMUTING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING YOU DO Unless you fish Bristol Bay on a crab boat, set chokers for a helicopter logging outfit, or work on defense in the Middle East, chances are the most dangerous thing you do is drive around Fairbanks!
ROCKET SCIENCE Your car is nothing but a 4,000-pound rocket hurtling through space. If it weren’t for some gravity and the tiny patches of rubber that we call tires, there is really nothing connecting you to earth! Sound scary? It is! The only thing keeping your rocket pointed in the right direction is friction. And friction on sub-zero ice is tricky.
WE TEST TIRES Personally. Rigorously. On a lake behind the airport or on lonely icy roads around Fairbanks, we can be found with a tape and GPS, slamming on the brakes or throwing cars into slides. If we sell it, we have driven it. It is the only way we can feel comfortable making recom- mendations to our neighbors about such an important subject.
THE BEST-SELLING TIRES ARE NOT THE SAFEST (OR CHEAPEST!) We research tire technology, perform- ance characteristics, safety, and wear history. We only market what we like, not the “lines we carry.” It’s the beauty of being “independent.”
THE TIRE SHOP RE-INVENTED Go ahead and plan your day, because Metro Garage has renovated the tire shopping experience. If you are here, we are working on your car because we install the tires we sell by appointment.
TIRE MEGA-STORE MYTH Car owners have been marketed into believing that a fair deal on tires requires the sacrifice of a day at the megastore. Not true! Metropolitan Garage pricing on tires is routinely at or below the competition. The main difference is that you have to think ahead and book an appointment!
ALL NOKIANS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY Metropolitan Garage has sold the safest winter tire for the past 6 years, the Hakkapeliitta series. For the first time this year, Fairbanks will have access to this tire in its un-studded version. Nokian sells this tire in order to satisfy markets where studs are not legal. These tires can be studded at the tire shop, however, the stud performance and longevity doesn’t compare to tires studded at the factory. At Metro Garage we only carry the Hakkapeliitta with factory studs.
18511946-10-5-14WS
Mitchell Expressway
30th Avenue
Indu
stria
l Ave
nue Lathrop S
treet
Interior Women’s Health
3208 International Street METROPOLITAN
GARAGE
Chinook Charter School
THE TIRE SHOP REINVENTED
Nokian Tires — make sure yours were studded at the factory
WWW.METROPOLITANGARAGE.COM 3208 INTERNATIONAL STREET • 455-7450