This year as you celebrate with family and friends, Golden Fire Rescue has some fire and life safety advice to help ensure a happy and fire-safe festive season for all.
“Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire,” says Fire Chief, Mike Pecora. “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, but not both. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
- Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
Holiday entertaining
- Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
- Keep children and pets away from lit candles and keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least one metre around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Never pour water on a grease fire. On the stove top, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. After a fire, the oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.
“We hope everyone has a safe holiday season,” says Pecora. “Best wishes and Merry Christmas from all of us at Golden Fire Rescue.”
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