Holiday Fire Safety

Happy & Healthy Holidays to All:

Don’t let your holiday go up in flames, put fire safety first and foremost this holiday season!

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.Our friends over at the Branford Fire Department would like to remind everyone to water your Christmas tree every day – a dry tree can be extremely dangerous, since it could ignite very easily. Also, Tis the season to have chestnuts roasting on an open fire, however just be sure to dispose of that fireplace ash safely. Place ashes in a covered metal container and remove them from the home; embers hidden within the ashes are capable of remaining hot enough to start a fire for up to several days afterwards.

QUICK-FACTS

• One quarter of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.
• Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious.
• A heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every four of the fires.

• Two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles.
• Nearly half of decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.