Fire Safe Holidays

Follow these tips to safeguard yourself, your family, and your home against fire.

Candles

Always put candles in non-tip candleholders before you light them, and do not burn candles near combustible decorations or displays.

Keep candles well away from curtains and other combustible articles, and never put candles in windows or near exits.

Never leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children.

Extinguish candles by wetting the wicks before you leave a room or go to bed.

Christmas Trees

Choose a fresh tree.

If you are not cutting your tree yourself, buy one that is not shedding its needles.

Before setting up your tree cut the trunk at an angle, and put it securely in a large, deep, non-tip stand.

Set up your tree away from exits, fireplaces, and heat sources.

Be sure your tree has water constantly.

When your tree starts losing its needles it is time to remove it from your home.

If you use an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as being flame-retardant.

Holiday Lights

Indoor or outdoor decorative lights should be labeled by an independent testing laboratory such as FM or UL.

Check and replace sets with cracked or frayed cords or loose connections.

Don’t overload outlets or run cords or extension cords under carpet, across doorways, on or under heaters, or pinch behind furniture.

Unplug all decorative lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Party Safety

Use flame-retardant on noncombustible materials for costumes and decorations.

Provide large, deep non-tip ash trays.

Empty ash trays often and wet their contents before dumping in trash.

Suggest ash trays be dumped initially in metal bucket with water in it.