City of Bloomington Fire Department offers tips for safe and festive holiday season

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 19, 2012

For more information, please contact:
Scott Smith, Fire Prevention Officer, City of Bloomington Fire Department, 349.3888


City of Bloomington Fire Department offers tips for safe and festive holiday season

Bloomington, Ind. - While the holiday season should be a time for family festivities and good cheer, it's also a time when fire departments see an uptick in the number of home fires. According to the City of Bloomington Fire Department, certain seasonal activities are some of the leading causes of U.S. home fires. Increased candle usage and increased use of cooking appliances as well as the installation of trees and flammable holiday decorations are significant causes of home fires. Add to those the hectic nature of the holidays, when people are rushing and multitasking, and the chance for a home fire increases even more.

"As everyone gets busier during the holidays, we often become rushed, distracted or tired," said Scott Smith, a fire prevention officer with the Fire Department. "Fortunately, by taking some preventative steps and following simple rules of thumb, most home fires can be prevented."

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. Smith recommends staying on task and in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when leaving the kitchen, even if it's for a short period of time. When simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer as a reminder. The Fire Department also suggests creating a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are being prepared or transported.

Candles are widely used in homes throughout the holidays, and December is the peak month for home candle fires. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) statistics show almost half of all home decoration fires are started by candles. The Fire Department encourages residents to consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles but pose limited fire risk. If traditional candles are used, keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when leaving the room and before going to sleep. Use candle holders that are sturdy and won't tip over and place them on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom, which is where one-third of U.S. candle fires begin, or in other areas where people might fall asleep. Never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle.

According to the NFPA, each year U.S. fire departments respond to 230 home structure fires caused by Christmas trees. One-third of those fires are caused by electrical problems, and one-fifth are caused by placing a heat source too close to a tree. The Fire Department offers the following advice for picking, placing and lighting the tree:

• Make sure artificial trees are labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.
• Make sure the needles on live trees don't fall off when touched; falling needles are a sign of a dry tree.
• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2 inches from the base of the trunk.
• Add water to the tree stand and be sure to water the tree daily.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Use lights that are labeled by an independent testing laboratory, and make sure they are designed for indoor use.
• Any lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections should be replaced.
• Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off tree lights before leaving the home or going to sleep.
• After the holidays are over, discard the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home.
• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

The City of Bloomington Department of Public Works will pick up trees on normally scheduled trash pickup days from Dec. 31 to Jan. 10. The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District will offer free tree recycling at the South Walnut, Dillman Road, Oard Road, New Unionville and Ellettsville centers from Dec. 26 to Jan. 12.

"The holidays can quickly turn from joyful to tragic when a fire occurs," Smith said. "By taking simple precautions, people can avoid potential fire hazards and make this time of year a healthy and happy one."

For more information and safety tips, please contact Scott Smith at 349.3888 or visit the NFPA at [www.nfpa.org/holiday|www.nfpa.org/holiday].

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