Westport Fire Department offers winter holiday safety tips
Posted
Submitted by the Westport Fire Department
Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.
Holiday Decorating
• Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, not both.
• Replace any string of lights that are worn, have broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for the maximum number of light strands that can be interconnected.
• Use clips, not nails to hang lights so the cord do not get damaged.
• Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
Holiday Entertaining
• Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Keep matches and lighters up high and stored in a locked cabinet.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
• Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.
Before heading to bed
• Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
Facts:
Two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles.
Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.