Fire Safety! What? 

 

I know this is not a topic you expect to see on the front page of our website.  But it is something that I feel strongly about.  I wonder why?

Christmas Holidays are a time for good food, and togetherness, and fun.  Those three items are the good news/bad news about the Holidays.

Let’s talk about the food aspect.  Yes, I know.  We often keep up with our healthy eating habits during the Holidays.  It is hard.  How can we always eat healthy with all of the get-togethers (although fewer and smaller this year) and the good food that is prepared for those get-togethers.  But the eating is not a fire hazard.

 

The fire hazard is the preparations for those meals.

 

No matter what Holidays you celebrate, consider these important steps for staying safe and preventing fires

 

47 percent of home fires start while cooking according to the U.S. Fire Administration.  Although cooking with care is always important, it can be easy to neglect caution during chaotic holiday preparations.  More cooks, and more pots, in the kitchen can increase the risk of fire. On Thanksgiving Day in 2015, fire departments reported 1,760 cooking-related home fires, a 259% increase over a typical day, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

 

Be sure to stay in the kitchen when you have something cooking on the stovetop or in the oven.  The NFPA recommends keeping pan lids close by so that if a fire starts you can quickly cover it with the lid and remove the pan from the burner. When food preparations are completed, make sure all the burners are turned off and the pots and pans are removed from the stove.

 

When decorating indoors, inspect all lights and cords to ensure there are no frayed wires.  Use clips instead of nails so that you don’t inadvertently damage the cord. If you burn candles indoors, keep them away from children, extinguish before going to bed, and make sure they cannot be easily knocked over.

 

Place Christmas trees or seasonal plants at least three feet from any heat source and turn off any decorative lights prior to leaving your home or going to sleep. Never use real candles to light a tree and keep the tree watered so it doesn’t become dry and brittle. Do not leave a dead and dry tree in the garage or near your house after the holidays. They are highly combustible.

 

If you decorate outside, the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends that you use only electrical decorations and extension cords manufactured for outdoor use.

Keep the cords and wires away from standing water and make sure they are not pinched by a door, a window, or under furniture.

By understanding the potential risks associated with this time of year and taking simple precautions, you can keep your home and family safe, while enjoying the holiday season.

For more fire safety tips, contact your local fire department or station.

I hope you have a fun and fire-safe Holiday Season.

 

Dennis Bagshaw, President

President@RCKW.org