Farmington Hills Fire Department Gives Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

The following article was submitted by Lieutenant Denny Hughes of the Farmington Hills Fire Department.

The upcoming holidays and extensive decorating are always fun and festive, but can put your family and home at risk for a fire. Be sure your home is safe during the holidays by practicing safety before, during and after the celebrations.

The use of extension cords when decorating the inside and outside of your home, the use of candles, and the consumption of alcohol are all factors in many home fires during the holiday season. Here are some simple fire precautions that should be taken to help ensure a safe and happy holiday season for you and your family:

Celebrate safely: Whenever possible, use flame-retardant or non-combustible
materials when decorating your home or Christmas tree. Encourage any smokers
to smoke outside of the home and place cigarette butts and ashes in deep, sturdy ashtrays. If allowed to smoke inside the home, check under furniture cushions and near other places people smoke for cigarette butts which may have fallen out of sight.

Decorative lighting: Only use lights which bear the label of an approved testing lab such as UL or FM, and follow suggested recommendations for their use. Some lights are for indoor use, while others may be used outdoors. Throw away lights which have cracked or frayed cords or loose sockets. Do not overload electrical outlets, and try not to use extension cords. Turn off all decorative lighting when leaving the home or going to bed at night. Never use electrical lighting on metal trees. Be aware that many lights only allow for three to five strands to be connected with one another.

Candles: Place candles securely in non-tip candle holders. Keep away from Christmas trees, decorations, curtains or any other combustible or flammable materials. Never place real candles in windows or near an exit. Never leave candles unattended orwithin reach of children or pets. Be sure all candles are extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed.

Heating hazards/fireplaces: Keep the fire in a fireplace small and use a screen or doors to keep sparks from flying into the room. Never leave children or pets alone in a room where a fireplace is actively burning. Never burn paper or trash in a fireplace as embers may float up your chimney and land on your roof or a neighbor’s roof. Remove ashes in a metal container and never store ashes indoors, including your garage. Have your furnace checked and inspected by a qualified contractor at least once a year (before the heating season). Clean as needed or when you may suspect a problem.

Space heaters need a minimum of three feet of clearance away from anything that can burn, such as newspapers, furniture or even walls, and should not be used as a replacement for a permanent heat source such as a furnace. Liquid-fueled heaters are strongly discouraged for indoor use, and are the cause of many fatalities during the winter months.

Christmas trees: The use of live or fresh cut trees versus artificial trees causes an annual debate over which is safest for you and your family. It’s a personal choice that comes with many precautions that must be adhered to regardless of which tree you select.

If using an artificial tree, follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines. A home can be completely filled with smoke within 30 seconds if an artificial tree catches on fire, thus reducing your chances of a successful escape from the home. Always have an escape plan in place and be sure everyone in the home knows this plan.

• Keep ignition sources away from the tree.
• Turn lights off when not at home.
• Keep combustible decorations off the tree (kids’ paper decorations from school, etc.)
• NEVER place candles on a tree.

If using a fresh cut tree, follow these suggestions:

• Make sure there is a fresh cut on the trunk.
• Keep away from fireplaces, heaters, and direct sunlight.
• Check all lights and replace if damaged in any way.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Turn off all lights when away from the house or when going to bed.
• Never place candles on a tree.
• Be aware if children or pets are near the tree
• Check needles and water level every day.

Every home should have working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and a portable fire extinguisher. Once again, ALWAYS have an escape plan in place in the event of an emergency, and never place your tree where it may block an exit from the home.

Have a very happy and safe holiday season with your family and friends!

Lieutenant Denny Hughes is a fire and safety educator with the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department. He can be reached at 248-871-2823 or at DHughes@fhgov.com.