Henry County Fire Department Reminds Citizens To Be “Fire Safe” During This Holiday Season
With the holidays upon us the Henry County Fire Department would like to wish the citizens of Henry County “Safe” & Happy Holidays. This time of year certainly heightens the risk of fire due to the various potentially hazardous items that are utilized during the holiday season.
In 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,389,500 fires. These fires caused 3,005 civilian deaths and 17,500 civilian injuries. In the same year, 61 firefighters lost their lives while on duty and another 70,090 firefighters were injured. Many of these fires could have been prevented and these lives would not have been lost if homeowners had the information they needed to avoid a disaster.
During the 2011 holiday season, 12,030 structure fires were caused from Christmas trees, decorative lighting, and candles, claiming the lives of 147 civilians. Another 994 fire injuries were associated with improper tree, holiday lighting, and candle care. Most holiday fires can be easily prevented.
At the top of the list of fire safety tips and a tip that can more than double one’s chance of surviving a fire is having a working smoke alarm. Although it appears to be such a simple little device, it bears great importance and should be in existence in every home. Following a few simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically. Please share the following tips with others because knowledge is the best fire protection.
Holiday Fire Safety & Life Saving Tips:
- Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks.
- Never put holiday tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove.
- Keep your tree watered. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it picked up by a community pick-up service.
- Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wire, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
- Only use UL approved lighting.
- Do not overload outlets. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.
- Do not leave lit holiday lights unattended.
- Never leave fireplaces or space heaters unattended. Always keep combustibles at least three feet away from all heating sources.
- Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they can not be easily knocked over.
- Never leave the house with candles burning.
- Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once each year.