BURLINGTON, ON December 13, 2011 – A house on fire on Christmas day has to be something that has all of us feeling devastated. And when we read later that there was no smoke alarm – we shake our heads. “With all the hustle and bustle at this time of year it is easy to forget that Christmas trees, candles, decorations and meal preparations for holiday celebrations can increase the risk of fire,” said Public Education Officer Lisa Cockerill.
She urges people to “keep your friends and family safe by following these simple steps to prevent the most common types of home fires that occur during the holiday season:
Day 1 Water live trees daily
Day 2 Check all sets of decorative lighting to ensure they are in good condition
Day 3 Test smoke alarms
Day 4 Test carbon monoxide alarms
Day 5 Make a fire escape plan with your family so everyone knows how to get out safely if a fire occurs
Day 6 Don’t overload power outlets and use extension cords wisely
Day 7 Position space heaters away from walls, curtains and other flammable materials
Day 8 Make sure all lit candles are put out when you leave the room
Day 9 Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children
Day 10 Watch what you heat! Stay in the kitchen when cooking
Day 11 Ask smokers to smoke outside
Day 12 Keep a close eye on anyone in your household who consumes alcohol while cooking or smoking
“A home fire is particularly devastating during the holidays,” said Cockerill. Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every storey of the home and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms every seven years.