With the Holiday season well underway, Fire & Life Safety wants everyone to stay safe from home fires as they decorate their homes for December festivities. There are common year-round hazards to avoid but here’s some that you may not have considered or are holiday:

Decorate Safely
• Keep potentially poisonous plants – Mistletoe, Holly Berries, Jerusalem Cherry, Poinsettia and Christmas Rose – away from children and pets. These can range from mildly dangerous to deadly for animals such as cats and dogs.
• If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant.”
• If using a live tree, make sure to keep it watered to avoid dried flammable hazards from falling off. Also cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption and don’t forget to remove it from your home when it is dry after the holidays.
• Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors, and choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights.
• When hanging string lights check for cracked sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections.
• Follow instructions on how many appliances can be plugged into one socket.
• Turn off all lights and decorations when going to bed or leaving the house.
• Keep fragile or easily breakable decorations out of reach of children and animals.

Home Fire Hazards
• Electric/flameless candles are safer than open flame candles.
• If using a traditional candle, make sure to place them where they cannot be knocked down or blown over and out of reach of children.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
• Always use a screen on the fireplace when a fire is burning.
• Never leave candles or fireplace burning unattended or when you are asleep
• Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year.
• Never toss wrapping paper into the fireplace. Doing so could result in a flash fire because wrapping paper can ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Stay safe and happy holidays!