Avoid Holiday Fire Hazards

December 12, 2017 — christmas fire, fire hazard

Don’t Send Your Christmas Up in Flames!

Don’t be the statistic!  Each year, holiday fires cause more than $550 million worth of property damage!  As you transform your home into a holiday winter wonderland, please keep these fire safety decorating tips in mind:

• Inspect light cords and extension cords – do not use if they are frayed anywhere or are hot to the touch when plugged in
• Don’t sleep with the Christmas lights on – always turn off all decorative lights before bedtime and before you leave the house
• Artificial trees – purchase one with a “fire resistant” label
• Live trees – ALWAYS keep your tree watered, the base should never dry up.  A well-watered tree is significantly less of a fire threat than a dry one!
• All Christmas trees – place at least 3 feet away from any heat source (vents, radiators, fireplaces, candles, etc.)
• Stockings – make sure your stockings are hung with care and not near any fireplace openings where an ember can land on & ignite them
• Decking the Halls – while using a ladder to deck your halls, take this time to check and inspect all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they’re working properly and replace their batteries with new ones