Merry, Bright and Safe: Holiday Fire Safety Tips

The beauty of Christmas can easily turn to tragedy without a few basic fire-safety measures. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind when stringing lights around an evergreen or relaxing beside a cozy fire.

Fireplaces
The folks at Fireside Hearth and Home warn customers to be aware of how hot fireplaces can get and take precautions to keep flammable materials safely away from them. Children also should be closely monitored at all times, as should pets.

They also remind customers to make sure to use a protective screen—and to handle those screens with care, because they can get extremely hot.

The US Fire Safety Administration (USFA) cautions that a fireplace should never be left unattended and must be extinguished before retiring for the evening or leaving home. Hot ashes should be wetted down and placed in a metal container.

The USFA also recommends that fire wood should be stored at least 30 feet away from the home.

Trees
Fresh Christmas trees can be extremely flammable and require extra safety measures. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) warns consumers to make sure the tree they choose is as fresh as possible. Pass on trees with needles that fall off easily. Once the trees are brought home, officials recommend that homeowners:

• Cut a couple inches off of the base of the trunk to ensure the tree can take up water.
• Locate the tree far away from fireplaces, candles or heating vents. Make sure it is not blocking an exit.
• Be vigilant about adding water to the tree stand every day.
• Remove the tree from the home once it is dry, but make sure not to leave it in the garage or leaning against the house.

The NFPA reports that a third of all tree fires are electrical in nature, so artificial trees also pose a significant fire threat.

According to Eagan Deputy Fire Chief Pat Diloia, LED lights are a safer alternative because they burn cooler than other types of Christmas lights. Regardless of the type of lights, Diloia added, it’s critical to make sure they are UL-approved and that users never connect more strings than recommended by the manufacturer.

Candles
The National Candle Association reports that more than 15,000 fires are started by candles each year and the most common causes are inattention and misuse.

As with fireplaces, burning candles should never be left unattended.

And, like trees, candles should never be placed near anything flammable. Candles also should be placed at least three inches apart and should be set in approved holders made especially for that purpose. Candles should be kept out of reach of the family pet, Diloia added.

Year-Round Safety
Regardless of the season, it’s always a good idea to have a working smoke detector and to change the batteries at least once a year. A fire extinguisher also is an important home-safety accessory.