Holiday fire safety

Published Nov. 28, 2012
375th Fire Department

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Christmas and New Years are within sight. Each year fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of more than 400 people, injure an additional 1,650, and cause an estimated $990 million in damage. Kitchen fires account for 41 percent of all residential fires, with cooking as the leading cause, followed by bedroom and heating system fires. During the winter holidays there is an increase in electrical and open flame fires, mostly related to Christmas trees, decorations, and the use of candles.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are simple life-saving steps people can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following the precautionary tips below, your family greatly reduces the chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Holiday decorating and lighting
· Live Christmas trees are only allowed in base housing, not in other base facilities.

· Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.

· Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.

· Do not leave candles burning unattended.

· Only purchase 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.

· Check strands of lights to determine the number of strands that may be connected. Connect no more than three strands of push-in bulbs and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.

· Always unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses.

· Do not mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation (i.e., using staples, clips, or nails).

· Do not use electric lights on metallic trees.

· Only use indirect off-the tree lighting with metallic trees.

· Use artificial tinsel and plastic ornaments to avoid shock hazards .

· 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.
Holiday entertaining

· Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking for holiday and visiting with guests, 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, 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 out of reach of young children.

· Test your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector and let guests know what your fire escape plan is.

Join the Scott AFB Firefighters in the annual "Keep the Wreath Red" campaign. The wreaths are located at Fire Station 1 on Hangar Road and Fire Station 2 in Patriots Landing. Each wreath is lit with red bulbs and the goal is to have the wreath remain lit with all red bulbs from Dec. 1 through Jan. 1. For each reportable fire during the holiday season a white bulb signifying a reportable fire replaces a red bulb. This has been a very successful campaign in past years and the fire department hopes the tradition continues. Keep Scott AFB fire safe throughout the holiday season and the entire year.

For more information, contact the Fire Prevention Office at 256-3378.