Include Fire Safety on your Holiday Wish List

To download a printable (pdf) Holiday Fire Preparedeness document, click here

SUMMIT / MADISON, N.J. (December 12, 2007) As the holiday season moves into full swing, the local American Red Cross Colonial Crossroads Chapter urges families to follow simple safety tips to keep the season merry and to prevent holiday fires.

During the winter holiday season the incidence and severity of home fires dramatically increases. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, each year nearly 47,000 fires occur nationally during the holidays claiming more than 500 lives, causing more than 2,200 injuries, and costing $554 million in property damage. On average, one of every 22 home fires started by Christmas trees results in death and candle fires are four times more likely to occur during the winter holidays.

"Unfortunately, fires do not take a day off to celebrate the holiday. Last year, residents of Chatham experienced a devastating home fire just the day after Christmas," said Chatham Borough Fire Official Walter Nugent. "The holidays are a time for celebration, and by making safety a part of your holiday preparations you can help to prevent your family's festivities from being disrupted by a fire."

To prevent holiday home fires, the Red Cross recommends keeping all potential fuel sources, including decorations and evergreen trees and wreaths, at least three feet from heat sources such as candles, heat vents, fireplaces and radiators. In addition, holiday lights and candles need to be turned off or extinguished before leaving the room or going to bed, and especially before leaving home. If you are entertaining guests, designate a responsible family member to walk around your home ensuring that candles and smoking materials are properly extinguished once guests leave.

"Last year in 2006 the Red Cross responded to more than 1,000 home fires in New Jersey including 18 in our service area," said Colonial Crossroads Chapter Director of Response Barb Chestnut. "When a member of our community is a victim of a home fire, we are available to help. The Red Cross provides families with free immediate emergency assistance including shelter, food, counseling and more."

"In addition to following safety precautions with holiday lights and decorations, this is a great time for residents in our communities to make sure that their smoke alarms are functioning properly and practice their home fire escape plan," added Nugent. "Working smoke detectors cost less than 10 dollars and give occupants precious seconds to escape a fire before it's too late."

At a minimum, smoke alarms need to be installed outside of each sleeping area and on each level of your home. If you sleep with closed doors, install alarms inside sleeping areas too. Use the test button to test each smoke alarm once a month. All smoke alarm batteries need to be replaced once a year. Fire escape plans should include at least two escape routes for every room in the home. Also choose a convenient meeting place at a safe distance from your home. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year with all family members.

The local Red Cross recommends following the below tips to help prevent holiday home fires:

Christmas Tree Care

• Purchase flame retardant metallic or artificial trees.
• If you purchase a real tree, make sure that it has fresh, green needles that aren't easily broken. Keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water.
• Use a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
• Keep trees at least three feet away from heat sources, including fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.
• Make sure that any light strings or other decorations for the tree are in good condition and follow manufacturer's instructions for their use. Do not use anything with frayed electrical cords.
• Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.
• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove.
• Safely dispose of trees as they become dry and needles begin to drop.
• Dispose of trees through recycling centers or community pick-up services. Dried-out trees should not be left at home or in a garage, or placed against the home or garage.

Holiday Lights and Decorations

• Always unplug tree and holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets by not linking more than three light strands.
• Use decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
• Place decorations at least three feet away from fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.

Holiday Candles

• Remember that lit candles are fire. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from trees, evergreens, holiday decorations, and other items that can catch on fire like clothing, papers and curtains.
• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Place candles only where they cannot be reached or easily knocked over by children and pets.
• Consider using battery-operated "flameless" candles that are scented and have a flickering affect.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires or www.ccnjredcross.org.

All Red Cross disaster assistance, including home fire response, is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money of area residents. You can help the Red Cross continue to be ready to respond and help fire victims in our community by making a financial contribution to the Colonial Crossroads Chapter or by volunteering on our emergency response team. To make a financial donation, visit www.ccnjredcross.org, call (908) 273-2076, or mail a check to the local Red Cross office in Madison (1 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940) or in Summit (695 Springfield Ave., Summit, N.J. 07901).