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Tuesday's Internet Edition, January 06, 2009.
Wilton fire chief issues safety guidelines for holiday season
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Photo courtesy to River Valley Times
Christmas decorations are still visible on this christmas tree engulfed in flames. WFD Cheif Dark warns residents to make sure a Christmas tree does not get too dry.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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As residents prepare to celebrate this holiday season, Wilton Fire Protection District (WFD) Chief Tom Dark cautions the community to observe fire safety as well as winter driving safety rules.
“Especially with the fog we’ve been having, residents need to slow down and pay attention,” Chief Dark said. “Turn your lights on and follow all those safety points that good drivers use.”
Regarding fire safety during the holidays, Dark said, “If you have a real tree in the house for decoration, be sure to have a freshly-cut tree so it is not too dry at the end of the holidays.”
To determine if a tree is fresh, needles should be green and hard to pull back from the branches. They should not break, and the trunk should be sticky to the touch.
According to Dark, a freshly-cut tree needs to be kept in a tree stand that is filled with water at all times, and it should not be placed close to a heat source - including a fireplace or heating vent. Dark also cautions not to put a tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.
Holiday lights can be another source of fire and need to be inspected each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation or broken or cracked sockets. Lights should never be left unattended, and strings should be connected to an extension cord before plugging them into the outlet. “Remember not to overload the electrical circuits with too many strings of lights plugged into one outlet,” said Dark. While in use, the wires should be checked periodically. They should not be warm to the touch.
Candles are another decoration that get more use during the holiday season and can increase the chance of fire. “Be careful with candles,” Chief Dark said. “Always be sure they are out before you leave the house or go to bed.”
Candles should be in stable holders and placed where they cannot be easily tipped over. Lit candles should never be placed on a Christmas tree or even near it.
Other precautions include using only nonflammable or flame-retardant decorations and to keep all decorations away from heating vents. Gift-wrapping should never be burned in a fireplace, and consumers should make sure that artificial Christmas trees are flame-retardant. “And of course, be sure to check your smoke detector,” Dark said. “If it doesn’t have a fresh battery, now is a good time to be sure it does.”
Fire safety also extends to the use of fireplaces and woodburning stoves. Before using a fireplace or stove, Sacramento County residents must ascertain if burning is permitted that day by going to www.sparetheair.com or calling 1-877-662-8765. “When you clean out the fireplace, put the ashes in a metal container and place them outside away from buildings, not on wood decks or near other combustible items,” Dark said.
According to the office of the United States Fire Administration (USFA), fires during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more and cause over $990 million in damage each year across the nation.
Chief Dark wants to make sure that does not happen to any residents in Wilton or surrounding areas of the River Valley. “Follow safety precautions and have a safe and happy holiday,” he said.
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Online publication, Copyright 2005, The River Valley Times.
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