Fire Safety: Talk and Tour event For more tips, check out our on page 14! 21 Holiday Decorations • Outlet Safety: Use only lights that have been tested for safety (look for a certification mark such as UL). Avoid overloading electrical outlets and use a power strip with a surge protector. Turn off holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed. • Extension Cords: Never run extension cords under rugs or furniture, as they can overheat and cause a fire. Avoid "daisy- chaining" multiple cords together. • Christmas Trees: If using a real tree, keep it well-watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming highly flammable. Place the tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, and heat vents. • Candles: Never leave candles unattended. Consider using battery-operated candles instead. If you do use real candles, keep them away from flammable objects and extinguish them before leaving the room.
Heat Your House Safely • Space Heaters: Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable, including curtains, furniture, and bedding. Always turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed. • Furnaces: Ensure your furnace is inspected and serviced annually by a qualified professional. This can help prevent malfunctions that could lead to a fire. • Fireplaces and Wood Stoves: Have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually to prevent creosote buildup, which can cause chimney fires. Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to keep embers from escaping. Smoke Alarms Ensure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, especially inside and outside sleeping areas. Test them frequently and replace batteries as needed. Consider installing interconnected smoke alarms so that when one alarm sounds, they all do. This provides an earlier warning in case of a fire.
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