Holiday Fire Safety

Instructions

1. Keep your Christmas trees fresh – make sure the tree remains hydrated while in your home. When setting up a tree, keep it away from fireplaces and radiators. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. All of these small steps decrease the chance of a fire in your home.
2. Do not overload electrical outlets; turn off and unplug decorations before going to sleep or leaving the house.
3. Watch the stove when cooking and do not leave the room.
4. Do not leave candles unattended or place them on/near flammable decor, such as curtains, blankets, slipcovers and artificial greenery.
5. Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrapping can ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
6. Holiday fire safety planning and training are the first steps to ensure your family will be safe in a fire emergency. Install smoke alarms in every room in your home and change the batteries according to manufacturer’s instructions.
7. Keep a fire extinguisher within easy reach in the rooms where fires are most likely to start such as the kitchen, bedroom and living room. When purchasing a fire extinguisher, choose the largest size that can be handled comfortably. Use a fire extinguisher when the fire is small and contained to create an escape path to safety when there is a clear exit behind you. Always call the fire department.
8. Develop and practice a fire evacuation escape plan with the whole family. Plan two exit routes for each room, and practice your fire evacuation escape plan at night and during the day. Never reenter a burning home. Be sure that someone is responsible for waking young children and escorting them to safety. (For help developing a home fire escape plan, go to www.firefyi.org.)
9. Be sure to clean your chimney before lighting it for the first time. A blocked flue can cause deadly carbon monoxide (CO) to build-up in your home. Install CO alarms on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.