Holiday Fire Safety
Although safety precautions are easily overlooked in the excitement of the holidays, there are several simple steps you can take to increase fire safety during these fun-filled weeks.
Christmas Trees
- Buy the freshest tree possible and keep it fresh throughout the season by sawing an inch off the bottom of the trunk and standing it in plenty of water.
- Make sure the water reserve remains full as long as you have the tree displayed.
- Dispose of your tree properly -- do not burn it in your fireplace as the type and dryness of the wood can cause chimney fires.
Holiday Lights
- Make sure you only use holiday lights that are approved by the Underwriters Laboratories and have a U.L. tag.
- Check all wires to ensure that they are not frayed or worn. Keep wires out of traffic areas and never run wires under carpeting.
- Check the wires periodically to make sure that household pets have not chewed them.
Holiday Decorations
- Make sure that your holiday decorations do not block exits from your home or business.
- Make sure that decorations are well away from heat sources such as fireplaces and heating ducts so that they cannot catch fire.
- Never use lit candles as decorations on or near Christmas trees or other flammable displays.
Special Tips for Business Holiday Decorating
- Never conceal or obstruct exits, exit lights, fire alarm pull boxes, fire hose cabinets, fire extinguishers, fire sprinkler heads, smoke detectors or other fire safety related items.
- Do not run wiring for decorative lights through doorways, under carpeting or through holes in walls. It is strongly recommended that a power strip with an internal circuit breaker be used to connect the lights to the power outlet.
- All decorations in exit corridors, lobbies, large assembly rooms and dining rooms should be made from non-flammable material or treated with a flame retardant solution or process approved by the State Fire Marshal.
- All cut natural trees in a business must be fire retardant treated. The tree must have a tag showing the name of the chemical, registration number of the chemical, name of the applicator and the date of treatment.
- Cut natural trees must be in water at all times to slow their natural drying process.
- Do not use lit candles or open flames on or near trees or other flammable decoration
