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With the upcoming holiday season, the Saskatoon Fire Department is sharing some reminders to help keep celebrations safe for trees, electrical, heating, cooking, candles, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
“The holiday season brings joy, warmth and increased fire risks. Extra lights, candles, space heaters, fireplaces and festive decorations can create hazards if not used safely,” said the fire department in a statement.
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For safety tips related to trees, choose one with fresh green needles and water it daily, as a dry tree can easily catch fire. Have an emergency escape plan. Make sure the exits, such as windows or doors, are not blocked with the Christmas tree or other decorations.
As for electrical matters, be sure to check holiday lights for frayed wires, damaged sockets or loose bulbs.
“Avoid overloading circuits and electrical outlets. Too many plugs and extension cords can cause overheating and lead to a fire,” noted the fire department.
Make sure to turn off all holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed. And make sure all electrical cords are out of the way, being tucked away. Exposed cords may tempt pets to chew on them, or cause people to trip and fall.
For heating, make sure objects, such as clothes, curtains, furniture and other combustible objects, are at least a metre away from the heat source. And never leave space heaters unattended.
When cooking, watch an eye out on the stove, keep flammable objects away from it.
When using candles, consider using flameless ones when decorating your home. If real candles are used, make sure they are extinguished before leaving the room or going to bed.
Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are tested each month to check they are working properly. For non-sealed alarms, replace old batteries annually or when the low-battery warning beeps. For sealed alarms, replace the alarm unit every eight to 10 years since the battery is not user-replaceable.
The Saskatoon Fire Department “encourages everyone to take extra precautions this holiday season to keep celebrations safe and free from fires.”
