Fire safety is important this holiday season


Disaster Coordinator and Fire Commander Clive Richardson, said that fire safety is
important during the holiday season as families come together to celebrate.
There are a number of simple precautionary measures that households can put in place to prevent home fires in order to avoid injury to persons or damage to homes while members of the family and friends remain safe enjoying the holiday season.
Typical holiday season fires result from the Christmas trees, candles, and unattended cooking.
Take the following precautionary measures into consideration:

 Test your smoke alarms if you have one in your home.
 Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
 Place Christmas trees at least 3 ft. from any heat source.
 Water live Christmas trees on a regular basis (trees
should have fresh green needles) and dispose of them
safely within four weeks of setting them up.
 Keep lit candles away from decorations and other
things that can burn.
 Use lights that have the label of an independent testing
laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor
use, but not both.
 Replace any string lights with worn or broken cords or
loose bulb connections.
 Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets
and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
 Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not
get damaged.
 Blow out lit candles when leaving the room or going to
bed.
 Turn off all string lights before leaving home or going
to bed.
Do not burn Christmas tree branches or wrapping
paper.
 Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
 Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop.
 
The Fire Department management and staff wish everyone a
happy, safe, and fire-free holiday season.
In the event of an emergency, call 919.