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Fire-Safe Holiday Tips

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut for too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

When setting up a tree at home, place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Keep it away from fireplaces or heaters. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, keep the stand filled with water. Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.

If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant. Use only noncombustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.

Avoid using lit candles and never put lit candles on a tree. Never leave the house with candles burning.

Inspect each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, excessive kinking, and loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks. Do not overload electrical outlets.

Make sure the fireplace flue is open before using.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

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Click HERE for details on how to prevent arson.