It won't be long before the sights, sounds and
sociability of the 2001 holiday season will be upon us. And in those
exhilarating times it's easy to overlook fire safety. However, thanks to
Chris Floyd, disaster services director of the Capital Area Chapter of
the American Red Cross, here are some precautions to keep you out of
harm's way:
Keep all portable
heaters at least three feet away from flammable items. Turn off space
heaters before leaving a room or
going to sleep. In portable kerosene heaters, use only the fuel
recommended by the manufacturer. Shut down and cool off such equipment
before refueling.
If you celebrate the
holidays with a live Christmas tree, be sure to get a fresh one and give
it water regularly. Keep your tree away from any heat sources or exits.
If you have an artificial tree, it should be clearly labeled as flame
retardant.
Purchase only
UL-approved lights. Never use frayed or damaged strings. Do not mix
indoor and outdoor lights. Unplug these lights before going to sleep
each night and whenever leaving your home.
Do not overload
electrical circuits, such as wall outlets and extension cords; use a
circuit (power) strip.
Keep a tight-fitting
screen on your fireplace and obtain a professional fireplace inspection
annually before usage. Have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis.
Never burn holiday
wrappings, a discarded Christmas tree or its branches in your fireplace.
Dry Christmas trees burn very hot and extremely fast. The fire could
ignite your carpet or nearby window coverings. Furthermore, a Christmas
tree is very oily and could damage your fireplace.
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