Throughout the Holidays, families and friends are spending time together. Homes are filled with the aroma of delicious food and decorations are placed inside/outside homes with trees and lights to enhance the holiday feeling.
“During the Holiday season, families are celebrating together with more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and unfortunately, an increased risk of fire due to all the celebrating,” says Fire Chief Tim White. “I hope people will read these tips and use them to keep their family safe from fire during the holidays.”
As you prepare for the holiday celebrations, keep these fire tips in mind:
• Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials. Purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance.
•Do not overload extension cords. Connect no more than three strands of push-in bulbs and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Always unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses. Don't mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation (i.e., using clips, not nails).
•Keep a watchful eye on children when around the tree and do not let them play with the wiring or lights. Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.
•Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
•Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
•Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and extend their life.
•Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and make sure any lit candles in the room are placed well away from tree branches.
•Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Place your tree in a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over. Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.
•Store matches and lighters up high, out of reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
•Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source, such as fireplaces and radiators.
•Try to position the tree near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
To find out more about Fire Safety, please contact the Douglas Fire Department at (912)384-4815.
