‘Twas the month before Christmas and all through the house caution should be used and fire safety accounted for
Holiday lights go up, fireplaces are lit, kitchens get used to their full capacity and furnaces work overtime this time of year meaning that it’s a great time to give your home a once over to make sure you’re practising the best fire prevention possible. To get the best advice straight from our local experts, the Selkirk Record caught up with former Selkirk 1Fire Chief Ted Wozny who gave the below tips to keep in mind.
Don’t let your tree be tarnished with ashes and soot
Whether they are real trees or artificial Wozny says that placement and care need to be taken.
“Real trees burn quickly and must be checked by adults and be watered regularly so they don’t dry out. Don’t keep trees for more than a few days or weeks after Christmas. They get very dangerous. Many people are using artificial trees now, but they also can be dangerous. Place the tree in a sturdy non-tip stand, always away from fireplaces or any heat source, and never in the way of exit areas,” said Wozny.
He also says that people should go over their holiday lights before they go on the trees to make sure that there are no cracks and though it may seem like it’s reducing a tripping hazard, putting extension cords under carpets can cause them to melt and cause a fire in the right circumstances.
Dash away all of the candles when not in use
Wozny says that candles should never be felt unattended.
“Always unplug all decoration lights before leaving home or going to bed. Consider using battery operated candles, which look very good, almost like real ones,” he said.
Wozny related a story where a family left a candle out and unattended and their cat accidentally knocked it over. Luckily the family was able to put the fire out quickly in that circumstance. Decorations with electronic pieces can also create a hazard if they get too hot or malfunction and so they should also be monitored.
Holiday lights should be hung with care
Wozny’s advice for hanging Christmas lights using nails and staples is ‘Don’t use them.’”
“You can put that staple right across [the cord], and it becomes a filament,” said Wozny.
This damages your cords for the coming years but also creates a space for heat or a spark to potentially come from and is not worth the risk.
He also reminds people to not just use an inside extension cord but to get proper cords for their lights that are safe to use outside.
Go straight to work making sure your family’s heads are filled with fire safety basics
With all of the seasonal decorations in place, the flow within your house may be changed. Wozny says that those changes can mean there is a need to talk through the basics of fire safety to make sure everyone is on the same page.
“Make sure all exits are clear and no Christmas trees or decorations are in your exit path. Parents, please discuss fire safety with your children [and go over your escape plans so] that everyone knows the outside meeting location so that parents know everyone’s out,” said Wozny.
The holiday season is a great time to have conversations about fire safety with your family so that everyone can have a safe holiday season.
Also, with the time change taking place a few weeks ago residents are reminded to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
