Sales of winter clothes, firewood double

Overnight drops in temperature in the Northern Border Province to below two degrees have doubled sales in winter clothes and heating devices in the region.
Shopkeepers in the northern and central provinces stock all kind of woolen clothes, blankets and thick garments needed by the residents in the region in the fall and winter, with the price of good pajamas going as high as SR100.
Winter pajamas are in high demand during the season according to owners of woolen clothes shop, where the price of a jacket can vary between SR90 and SR600.
Some shops are also displaying room heaters. Muhammad Sabir, who works in an electrical shop in the region, said demand is high for water heaters and room heaters while their prices vary from SR100 to more sophisticated devices that can cost up to SR700.
Another item whose price has skyrocketed this season is firewood, with a small bundle fetching SR35 now, while only days ago it was SR15. Firewood merchant in Hail, Muhammad Al-Hazmi, attributed the steep rise in the price of firewood to the approaching winter and the Ministry of Agriculture’s ban on cutting trees.
“With the arrival of winter the seasonal demand for firewood surges and the high demand prompts most sellers to hike prices hoping to make up for the sluggish sales in the other seasons of the year, Al-Hazmi told Arab News. He added that the largest quantify of firewood was brought from Madinah province which is abundant in samar trees. It is the workers in the market who cut the timber into pieces and make the bundles after the timber is brought in trucks from Madinah and other places.
The Directorate of Civil Defense has issued a public warning in those areas that a bitter-cold air mass will bring the mercury below 0 degree Celsius in Tabuk, Jouf, Norther Border, Qassim and Hail starting Thursday. The warning also urged people to be extremely cautious when lighting fire with wood or coal at rest homes, houses and desert areas to avoid fire accidents.
The directorate also pointed out that the burning coal produces toxic carbon monoxide gas that makes humans unconscious or extremely weak leading to death in a few minutes.
The Civil Defense also warned against burning coal or fire wood close to inflammable substances such as sheets, clothes and in tents and also in confined spaces, especially with a strong wind blowing.
The directorate also instructed people to open windows when coal or wood is used for fire so that the air inside becomes clean from toxic gases. One should also be careful to ensure that the fire is fully put out when going to bed, not to throw burning embers in garbage boxes and to keep children away from fire.