Here are some best practices for fire safety this holiday season, courtesy of Wayne Riches, Captain of Fire Prevention and Education for the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service.
First, it’s important to keep your Christmas tree watered. While It may seem odd to water a tree that will get thrown out after the holidays, keeping the base of the tree immersed in water will help prevent the tree from drying out and increasing the risk of a fire.
“If you have a live Christmas tree in your home over the holidays, make sure the base of the tree is immersed in water at all times,” stated Riches in a release to the Times. “After the holidays are over, remove the tree and place it outside until it is disposed of.”
Moreover, Riches suggests “never place lit candles on or near the tree, to use only low-wattage or LED type lights on your Christmas tree, and to keep your tree away from electric baseboard heaters and portable space heaters.”
In addition to these holiday-specific suggestions, some other, more general best practices include testing your smoke alarms.
“It is the law in Ontario that all residences have working smoke alarms,” stated Riches. “Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home (including the basement) and outside sleeping areas. Inside bedrooms is a good idea as well as testing your smoke alarms over the holidays and changing the batteries if necessary.”
According to Riches, “Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed in close proximity to bedrooms. They may also be placed in the furnace room or other areas of the residence where carbon monoxide might accumulate.”
In case of a fire, Riches suggests “to get everybody out of the house and stay out, and everybody should meet at the meeting place [or muster point.]”
If there’s a fire, there will likely be smoke. So, Riches thinks, “If there is smoke, try to use another exit. If you can’t use one, crawl low, under the smoke. Remember that heat and smoke rise.” Adding, “Most fire victims die from smoke, not flames. Smoke always rises, so you must get down on the floor where the air is cleaner. Crawl on our hands and knees to safety and call 911 from outside or from a neighbour’s house.”
Speaking of smoke, if you’re a smoker, “Use large, deep ashtrays and always make sure your cigarette butts are out. Never smoke when you are lying down, if you are drowsy, or in bed,” suggests Riches.
With the holiday season comes the festive feasts, but don’t let your guard down while cooking.
“Wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeves when cooking,” stated Riches. “Don’t reach over a hot burner. If a pot catches fire, cover it with a lid and turn off the burner. Never leave your cooking unattended. Never put water on a burning pot or try to move it to the sink.”
Should you find yourself deep-frying food, additional precautions should be followed.
“Deep fat frying is a major kitchen hazard. Oil heated in a pot on the stove can easily overheat and burst into flames. Fire departments recommend that you use only a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer,” stated Riches. “Careless cooking is the number one cause of fires. Never leave cooking unattended – particularly if you are using oil or high temperatures. A stovetop fire can start in a flash, so keep a close eye on your cooking at all times.”
With Christmas comes clutter, and keeping things tidy is extra important when there’s a risk of a fire.
“Combustible items, such as wooden or plastic cooking utensils, dishcloths, paper towels and potholders, can easily ignite if they are too close to a burner,” stated Riches. “Keep all combustible items a safe distance from your stove.”
If you or someone else gets burned, Riches suggests to “immediately run cool water over the wound for several minutes. The water will prevent further burning and relieve the pain. If the burn is severe, seek medical attention.”
Moreover, Riches states, “Many nighttime fires are caused by people attempting to cook while under the influence of alcohol. Don’t let this happen in your home. Keep a close eye on drinkers and install a smoke alarm on every level of your home.”
In the event someone bursts into flames or catches on fire in any capacity, Riches suggests they should “lower to the ground, covering [their] face with [their] hands and roll over and over to put out the flames. If you can’t do this, grab a towel or blanket and smother the flames.”
Furthermore, Riches thinks space heaters need space, suggesting to “keep them at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from everything – including those wrapped up Christmas presents. Wrapping paper can easily ignite if placed too close to space heaters and electric baseboard heaters.”
Lastly, “a fire extinguisher can be a useful safety item – if you know how to operate it,” stated Riches. “Use a multi-purpose, listed extinguisher that is right for your particular kitchen. Fire extinguishers must only be used on small, contained fires. Never allow the fire to get between you and your exit.”
