12 Days Of Holiday Fire & CO. Safety Tips

TIP #1: Check all lights before decorating. You don’t need to be Clark Griswold to shine bright with lights this holiday! Consider using LED lights and hang your outdoor-rated lights with nail-free clips. Cut your loss and toss damaged strings – an electrical fire is a sure bet for a lousy holiday.

TIP #2: Use flamless candles. Fires caused by holiday decorations and open flames from candles are all too common this season. Battery-operated candles are a great alternative, but if you must light up, put candles in sturdy containers and always blow out when you leave the room. Keep candles away from children, pets and anything that can burn.

TIP #3: Have working smoke alarms. ‘Tis the season – literally! Fatal fires are at their highest rate during the holidays. When seconds matter, a working smoke alarm is the gift of time in the event of a fire. An alarm on every storey, tested monthly, and batteries replaced annually, is probably the best gift you can give your family this season.

TIP #4: Install carbon monoxide alarms. Unlike gingerbread, carbon monoxide is odourless. Unlike your uncle’s ugly Christmas sweater, it’s invisible. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas that can cause flu-like symptoms. A CO alarm alerts you to a potential CO emergency with four beeps and is the best way to protect your family from The Silent Killer.

TIP #5: Water fresh trees daily. Falling needles are your tree’s way of telling you it’s drying out and is a fire waiting to happen. If you are decorating with a real tree, avoid being a statistic and water your tree daily. Be wary of heat sources near the tree including furnace vents and non-LED lights.

TIP #6: Never overload electrical outlets. Getting wound up in the holiday spirit? Don’t “overextend” your outlets! Extension cords are a temporary solution and if more outlets are required, have them installed by a licensed electrician. Fire and electric shock are not on anyone’s list this season – avoid overloading a circuit and never run extension cords under a rug.

TIP #7: Supervise children in the kitchen. Holiday baking with children this holiday season? Make sure to keep an eye on those little bakers and remember to never leave the oven unattended. Safety first, cookies second! #HolidayFireSafety

TIP #8: Plan and practise a home fire escape. Santa needs one way out of your home – you need two. Give your family the gift of peace of mind with a home fire escape plan and have two ways out of every room, if possible, to ensure your loved ones are prepared for the worst so you can focus on the best: festive cheer!

TIP #9: Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Holidays are stressful enough but when 17% of fires in Ontario are cookingrelated, it’s important to remember to slow things down in the kitchen. Fires caused by cooking mostly happen when the stove is left unattended so be mindful when cooking and never leave the kitchen while using a stovetop.

TIP #10: Give heat sources 1 metre of space. Baby, it’s cold outside! Staying warm this Winter Solstice means practicing fire safety. Space heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces are all great ideas until an accident happens. Keep at least one metre (3 feet) distance between your heat source and combustibles, like paper and fabrics.

TIP #11: Fully extinguish all smoking materials. Lit cigarettes are Ontario’s number one cause of fatal fires. This season, have all smoking done outside using deep, sturdy ashtrays. Never flick your butt – a lit butt might be the difference between a holiday to remember and a holiday you’ll never forget.

TIP #12: Charge lithium-ion batteries safely. Receiving a new toy or device during the festive period can be exciting, but if it has a lithium-ion battery, it can also add potential risk to your home. Always monitor the toy or device when it is charging; read the manufacturer’s instructions for safe charging and do not exceed the recommended charging time.

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