| Holiday Safety Tips |
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 The
winter holidays are a time for celebration and that means more cooking,
home decorating, entertaining and an increased risk of fire due to
heating equipment. |
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FACTS AND FIGURES |
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In 2002, there were 240 Christmas tree fires in U.S.
homes, resulting in 23 deaths, 12 injuries and $11.4 million in direct
property damage. |
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During 1999-2002, an average of 310 home fires started when
Christmas trees ignited. These fires caused an estimated annual
average of 14 civilian deaths, 40 civilian injuries and $15.7 million in
direct property damage. |
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During 2001, an
estimated 18,000 home fires started by candles were reported to
public fire departments. These fires resulted in an estimated 190
civilian deaths, 1,450 civilian injuries and an estimated direct
property loss of $265 million. |
| Fourteen percent of
the candle fires occurred in December. This is almost twice the 8%
monthly average. |
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During 1999-2001,
candles caused an estimated annual average of 16,300 home structure
fires. These fires resulted in 140 civilian injuries and $289
million in direct property damage. |
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In 11% of the December
candle fires, the fires began when a decoration caught fire.
This was true in only 3% of the fires during the rest of the year.
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SAFETY TIPS |
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HOLIDAY DECORATING AND
LIGHTING |
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Use caution with holiday
decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with
flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
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| Keep candles away from decorations
and other combustible materials and do not use candles to decorate
Christmas trees. |
| Purchase only lights and electrical
decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab and follow
the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance. |
| Carefully inspect new and previously used
light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in.
Do not overload extension cords. |
| Always unplug lights before replacing
light bulbs or fuses. |
| Don't mount lights in any way that can
damage the cord's wire insulation (i.e. using clips, not nails). |
| Keep children and pets away from light
strings and electrical decorations. |
Turn off all light strings and
decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.
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| HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING |
| Unattended cooking is the leading
cause of home fires in the U.S.. When cooking for holiday
visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range. |
| Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays
and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the
trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water
before discarding. |
| After a party, always check on, between
and under upholstery and cushions and inside trash cans for cigarette
butts that may be smoldering. |
| Keep matches and lighters up high, out of
sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet). When
smokers visit your home, ask them to keep their smoking materials with
them so young children do not touch them. |
Test your smoke alarms and let guest know
what your fire escape plan is.
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