Keep Your Holidays From Going Up in Flames!

Fire Prevention Tips for a Safe and Festive Holiday Season!

(December 21, 2010) – For most of us, the holiday season represents a time for family festivities and good cheer. What few of us consider is that the holiday season is a time when there is an increased risk of home fires. Many households engage in holiday activities that serve as some of the leading causes of U.S. home fires, including cooking. Christmas trees, candle usage and holiday decorations also significantly contribute to the seasonal causes of home fires. Add to that the hectic nature of the holidays, when people are trying to accomplish multiple tasks at one time, and the chance for home fires grows even further.

“As everyone gets busier during the holidays, we often become rushed, distracted or tired,” says FiremanRich. “That’s when home fires are more likely to occur.”

Fortunately, with a little added awareness and some minor adjustments to holiday cooking and decorating, the season can remain festive and safe for everybody. “By taking some preventative steps and following simple rules of thumb, most home fires can be prevented,” says FiremanRich.

With unattended cooking as the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries, stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you’re simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. Also create a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried.

Cooking Safety:

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Public%20Education/CookingSafety.pdf

Candles are widely used in homes throughout the holidays, and December is the peak month for home candle fires. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) statistics show that more than half of all candle fires start because the candles had been too close to things that could catch fire. It is encouraged to consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles. However, if you do use traditional candles, keep them at least 12” away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom where two of five U.S. candle fires begin or other areas where people may fall asleep. Lastly, never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle.

Candle Safety:

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Public%20Education/CandleSafetyTips.pdf

According to NFPA, U.S. fire departments annually respond to an average of 250 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Nearly half of them are caused by electrical problems, and one in four resulted from a heat source that’s too close to the tree.

Christmas Tree Safety:

http://www.nfpa.org/images/ChristmasTreeSafety.pdf

The National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) offers the following advice for picking, placing and lighting the tree:

1. If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.

2. If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 1-2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.

3. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.

4. Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.

5. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.

6. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

7. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.

8. Include information on your community Christmas tree recycling program.

9. After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home.

10. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

By following these fire prevention tips and measure, you can greatly reduce the risk of fire in your home, and enjoy a safe holiday season. “The holidays can quickly turn from joyful to tragic when a fire occurs,” says FiremanRich “By taking simple precautions, people can avoid potential fire hazards, and make this time of year a healthy and happy one.”

Visit www.nfpa.org/holiday for more information and safety tips.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Make your holiday fire-safe!

Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase the chance of fire.

Based on data from the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration, each year an estimated 250 home fires occur involving Christmas trees and another 170 home fires involve holiday lights and other decorative lighting. Together, these fires result in 21 deaths and 43 injuries annually.

Following a few simple fire-safety tips can keep electric lights, candles and the ever popular Christmas tree from creating a tragedy. Learn how to prevent a fire and what to do in case a fire starts in your home. Make sure all exits are accessible and not blocked by trees or other decorations.

Live Christmas Trees:

- If you buy a real tree, try to get the freshest one possible. Christmas trees are frequently cut as early as October and placed in cold storage until the tree lots begin sales. Remember, a dry tree will ignite explosively and burn.

- A fresh tree will have a strong pine or spruce scent and a deep-green color. Needles will not fall off the tree at a touch. To test freshness, grasp a branch near the trunk and gently pull the branch through your fingers. If needles feel brittle, stiff or come off easily, choose another tree. A truly fresh tree will have sticky sap at the base.

- Prior to placing the tree in a tree stand cut off about two inches of the trunk, preferably at a slight angle if your stand will permit this. An angle cut permits maximum water absorption. Water the tree daily. The average tree will consume between a quart and a gallon of water per day. Recent tests prove that commercial additives are of little value. They also indicate that tap water is best for keeping the tree hydrated.

- Fireplaces and other heat sources, such as space heaters, will dry the tree out quickly. So, avoid placing the tree to close to them. Be careful not to block access to doors and exits with the tree or with furniture that has been rearranged to allow space for a tree to be set up.

- Never use candles or other open flame decorations on or near the tree.

Artificial Trees:

- If purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label stating it meets flammability standards. Many of these trees have a spray coating applied that may wear off over the years. You can test this by removing a small piece of the tree, taking it to a safe area outside, and applying a flame. If it readily burns, it is time to replace or re-treat the tree.

- Do not string electric lights or other wiring on the tree as this creates a possible electrical shock hazard. Illuminate metal trees with multicolor flood lamps designed for this purpose. Artificial trees come with safety instructions that should be read carefully and followed closely.

Holiday Lights:

- Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking.

- Use lighting only listed by an approved testing laboratory.

- DO NOT overload electrical outlets.

- Unless directions allow, DO NOT link together more than THREE light strands.

- Make periodic checks to wires - they should not be warm to the touch.

- DO NOT leave holiday lights unattended.

- Presents under the tree are very pretty, but keep tissue paper wrappings away from tree lights.

- Do not run lights or extension cords under carpets or rugs, through door jambs or across walkways.

Holiday Decorations:

- Use only nonflammable decorations of flame resistant decorations and ensure they are not located near any heat vents.

- DO NOT block exits. Trees and decorations should not block any exits within your home or work facility.

Remember, check your live tree daily throughout the holiday season. If it becomes dry, brittle or the needles turn brown and fall off, it needs to be removed from the home or office as the risk of fire becomes too great.

When disposing of your Christmas tree, never burn it in the fireplace. Most communities establish plans for either the recycling or disposal of Christmas trees, so watch your local papers.

In case of an emergency on base, dial 911.

Help ensure that you have a fire-safe holiday season.

For more information, visit: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/focus/holiday.shtm.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Fire Safety for Halloween

It’s Halloween now at the end of October will soon be here. It’s the time of year when ghosts, goblins, and witches will once again be in search of candy and other goodies. The phrase for this ghoulish holiday is “Trick or Treat” but the famous phrase could easily turn into “Tragedy.” Here are some tips to help make this a fire safe time for everyone.

Fire wise homeowners know it’s never wise to use candles in a jack-o-lantern. Whether carried by a trick-or-treater or just set on a window ledge, the candlelit pumpkin is a fire waiting for a chance to spread.

Candle fires represent a leading cause of U.S. home fires. From 2003-2007, an annual average of 15,260 home structure fires were started by candles, causing 166 fire deaths, 1,289 injures and $450 million in direct property damage. Overall, candles caused 4% of reported home fires, 6% of home fire deaths, 10% of the home fires, and 7% of the direct property damage in reported home fires. Halloween is one of the top five days for candle fires.

If you prefer the flickering, eerie light of a candle to the dull constancy of a plain light bulb here’s a simple suggestion to make candlelight in a jack-o-lantern very safe. Use a string of color Christmas lights. Fill the string with red & yellow lights that flash by themselves. Cut a small hole in the back of the pumpkin to accommodate the electric plug and drop in the lights. You’ve created a fire-safe pumpkin that’s a Halloween chill down the stoutest ghoul’s spine.

Now there is sure to be Halloween parties as well with the decorations to put all in the fun spirit. Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these decorations well away from open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.

National Fire Protection Association statistics show us also that, from 2003-2007, decorations were the item first ignited in a estimated annual average of 1,240 reported structure fires, resulting in 7 civilian deaths, 53 civilian injuries and$20 million in direct property damage each year.

Everyone is urged to take some simple precautions and practices to keep this year’s Halloween celebrations festive and safe. Here are a few more fire safety & safety tips:

· When choosing a costume, stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.

· Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.

· It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of way trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.

· If you choose to use candle decorations, make sure to keep them well attended at all times.

· Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.

· Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)

· Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.

· If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

· Children should always go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult.

· Remind children to stay together as a group and walk from house to house.

· Review how to cross a street with your child. Look left, right and left again to be sure no cars are approaching before crossing the street.

· Make a rule that children will not eat any treat until it has been brought home and examined by a grown-up.

Halloween is meant to be fun. Don’t let tragedy spoil it. Be Fire Safe! Be Fire Wise! Learn Not To Burn!

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)