General Holiday Safety Tips
All holiday decorations should be non-combustible or flame-retardant, and not
placed near heat or electrical sources. Keep candies away from flammable
materials like curtains, plants, Christmas trees - place candles where they
can't be blown over.
Halloween
Use flashlights, not candles, to light pumpkins. Be sure your children dress
in flame-resistant costumes.
Christmas
Keep Christmas tree needles moist by replenishing the water supply in the
base-holder daily. Dryness is the biggest fire safety hazard. Dispose of
tree as soon as needles start to fall off. Check your indoor and outdoor
Christmas lights each year before you use them. If there are frayed cords,
exposed wires or broken sockets, replace or repair them. Unplug your lights
when you leave your home or go to sleep. Don't put wrapping paper in a
fireplace or stove - it can throw off dangerous sparks. Never use electric
lights on a metallic tree. NEVER leave candles and children unattended!!
This article was originally published in "The Siren Silencer", Fall
1996 (Vol. 9, No. 3) edition. The "Siren Silencer" is an official publication
of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Maryland State Firemen's Association's Fire
Prevention Committee, Peggy Webb, editor.
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