‘Tis the season-for home fires
This is the time of year when the most home fires occur, often turning a joyful time into tragedy and loss. Here are a few precautions:
Candles (2 out of every 5 home decoration fires started by candles – NFPA)
- Never leave a candle burning near anything flammable, or burning in a child’s or an unoccupied room
- Make sure candles fit securely into a holder that won’t tip over
- Blow out any candles before leaving a room or going to sleep
Children playing with fire
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Keep matches, lighters and other ignition sources out of the reach of children
- Teach children fire safety at an early age
- Make sure children have adequate supervision
Christmas trees and lighting 
- Keep live trees well watered and dispose of them before they become dry
- Turn off tree and decorative lights before leaving the house or going to bed
- Check lights for shorts or other problem before putting them up
Cooking
- Don’t leave food cooking on the stove unattended
- Don’t throw water on a grease fire; put a lid on the pan to smother the fire
- If there’s an oven fire, turn off the oven and leave the door shut until the fire goes out
- Keep clothing, potholders, paper towels and anything else flammable away from a fire
Fireplaces
- Have the fireplace inspected to see if it needs cleaning
- Screen the fireplace to prevent embers for escaping
- Never use flammable liquids to start a fire
- Only burn seasoned wood – no wrapping paper
- When removing embers place in a metal container and set outside to cool for 24 hours before disposing
And remember to always have working smoke detectors in the house and a fire extinguisher nearby.