With snow piling up, Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre on Tuesday urged residents to practice winter safety precautions.

His advice included providing adequate access widths for emergency vehicles along driveways and private roads, shoveling snow away from all home exits, clearing vents, and adopting fire hydrants.

Lefebvre said driveways and private roads in town should be plowed wide enough so fire trucks and ambulances can get through.

“We’ve got a lot of homes that set back substantially from the road,” Lefebvre said.

Emergency responders would like a way cleared up to 8- or 9-feet wide to accommodate rescue vehicles and allow room for opening vehicle doors. But with the amount of snow accumulation and with more forecast, Lefebvre sees some driveways in town that are now only wide enough for small passenger cars.

“They’ve got a cow path going in,” Lefebvre said.

In two recent cases on private ways, rescue personnel had to call public works to sand.

“It’s a huge, huge concern for us,” Lefebvre said about access in case of emergencies.

Lefebvre also said all building exits, including front doors at residences, and walks should be cleared of snow and ice. At least shovel out the door so its not blocked, he said.

He said all outside vents like those for various heating systems and hot water heaters should not be blocked with snow. Gorham rescue workers have responded this winter to several calls regarding carbon monoxide, he said, because vents were covered with snow.

Homes, Lefebvre recommended, should definitely have carbon monoxide detectors.

“It’s been a big issue this year,” Lefebvre said.

Keeping fire hydrants cleared of snow is another important safety issue high on his list. Lefebvre said Gorham has 340 public hydrants and another 70 hydrants on ponds. “Adopt a hydrant,” Lefebvre said. “It takes 10 minutes to clear one out.”

Residents volunteering to clear snow away from hydrants saves on the departmen’s budget and promotes safety for volunteers and their neighbors, Lefebvre said.

With the extreme cold this winter, Lefebvre warned, “Please don’t use a torch to thaw frozen pipes.”

Residents should check on elderly neighbors to ensure their safety. Gorham Fire & Rescue Department has the free Community Cares program for senior citizens, who live alone.

The program ensures that rescue personnel have pertinent emergency information and how to gain access to a home.