Stay Safe This Holiday Season

11/5/2021 (Permalink)

HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY TIPS

The winter holidays can be the busiest time of year for many households. There are family activities, community events and parties to attend, and you may even be hosting a gathering or two in your own home. Kids are excited, the days are short and there seems to be a never-ending list of things to get done. However, now is not the time to ignore or forget about basic holiday fire safety, which includes Christmas tree fire safety.

CHRISTMAS TREE FIRE SAFETY:

• Live trees need to be fresh and stay fresh until removed from your home. Look for a tree with needles that pull back easily from the branches but do not break. Tap your tree on the ground. If it sheds a ton of needles, it is not fresh.
• Keep a freshly cut tree watered so it does not dry out and become a fire hazard, or use a potted live tree and plant a memory from this Christmas season to grow for years to come.
• Never place your Christmas tree near a fireplace, wood burning stove or other open flame.
• Never place real, burning candles on your Christmas tree as decorations.
• Christmas trees should not block doorways or exit routes, in case of a fire.
• Only buy fire-resistant artificial trees.
• Inspect all strands of Christmas lights before placing them on your tree. Look for fraying wires and other damage.
• Never use more than three sets of light strands per one extension cord.
• Check all extension cords for damage or fraying; do not overload a single electrical outlet.
• If you are going to be away from home, turn off the Christmas tree lights and consider unplugging all non-essential electronics and appliances.
• Keep lit candle displays at least three feet away from the tree.
• Only decorate a tree with non-combustible or flame-resistant decorations.

OUTDOOR DECORATION FIRE SAFETY

Just because your decorations are outside does not mean you can ignore specific holiday fire safety precautions. Be sure that any extension cords you use outside are labeled for outdoor use. Look on the label and packaging to determine whether your cord is made for the outdoors. All outdoor lights need to be fastened securely to your home's porch, columns, gutters, surrounding trees or other supports that will stay secure, even in blustery conditions. Always plug outdoor lights and electric decorations into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet or use a surge protector for safety.