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Important Fire Safety Tips for the Holidays in Calgary, Alberta

Important Fire Safety Tips for the Holidays

As always, fire departments around the country are reminding residents to take additional precautions over the holidays in regards to fire safety and hazards. With all the added lights and other electrical items plugged in – both inside and outside your home – it is more critical than ever to ensure your house is as fire-proofed as possible. Here are some tips:

Your Christmas Tree

If you have a cut tree, ensure that it is as fresh as you can get it. Look for trees with bright green needles and a strong, fresh smell. You can test the needles by bending them, they should not break. It’s okay if a few needles fall off when to tap it on the ground. Another good indicator is to check if the stump has fresh sap on it.

When you put up your tree, keep it watered regularly. This will help it last longer and reduce the chances of a fire (as a “green” tree won’t burn as easily). Your tree stand should hold about 2-3 litres, otherwise you may want to upgrade.

Finally, your tree should not be placed near a fireplace, heat register, or television, and it should not block an exit or escape route from your home.

Lights and Cords

The lights you use should be appropriate to the environment – so outdoor rated lights go outdoors, and indoor rated lights go indoors. Unplug the lights when not in use. Check your lights and extension cords before plugging them in to ensure there are no loose connections, bare wires, or broken sockets. And don’t overload your electrical outlets as this could cause excessive heat.

Other Precautions

Careless maintenance and use of candles is one of the leading causes of fire over the holidays, so please be careful and extinguish candles when not in the room. Also do not coil extra lengths of cords in and outside of the home as this can cause extra heat. The same goes for running cords under carpets or furniture.

~ Happy Holidays ~

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