With five weeks to go until Christmas and the days getting colder and shorter, thoughts are turning to the holiday season and what that will bring to Prince George households.
It's the season to be jolly, but Christmas also brings the need for people to be more aware of the increased danger of fire hazards.
Christmas trees, electrical strings of lights and candles that have been packed away all year will be prevalent in people's houses for the next month, and with the onset of winter, more heat sources will be required.
With that in mind, the Canada Safety Council (CSC) has designated Nov. 24-30 as national home fire safety week. By following a few safety tips provided by the CSC, the risk of a house fires can be significantly reduced.
Christmas trees
n If you are buying a real tree, make sure it hasn't dried out before it gets to the lot. Test it by tapping it on the ground. Dropping needles indicate a dry, highly flammable tree. Needles should be hard to pull from branches and when bent they should not break.
n Make sure artificial trees are rated as fire resistant. The tree should also have the Canadian Standards Association label.
n Don't place trees near fireplaces, floor heaters or other heat sources and never use candles to light a tree. Keep the base of real trees immersed in water and be sure to check the water level of the stand daily.
n Dispose of a tree within 10 to 14 days of purchase or when needles fall off in mass quantities.
Fireplaces
n Make sure the chimney flue is open and clean before lighting the fire.
n Remove all flammable decorations such as stockings from the fireplace area and use a screen to prevent sparks from spreading.
n Don't burn wrapping paper, which will burn rapidly and possibly cause a flash fire. Don't use Christmas trees for firewood.
Do not leave a fire unattended or let it smoulder.
Decorations and tree lights
Use only flame-resistant, non-combustible and non-conductive decorations. Place breakable ornaments on higher branches to protect children and pets.
Avoid metallic decorations which can short out on defective light wiring.
Do not use electric lights strings on metallic trees, which could create an electric shock hazard.
Turn out tree lights when you go to bed or leave the house and do not overload electrical circuits.
Candles
Don't leave burning candles unattended and keep out of reach of children. Put candles out when leaving the room.
Keep candles in sturdy holders on a flat, stable surface away from curtains, trees and other flammable material.
Use battery-powered candles when possible.
Kitchen
Do not leave cooking on a stove unattended. That is the leading cause of kitchen fires.
Avoid loose-fitting clothing when cooking.
Keep flammable items like paper towels away from the stove.
Use a timer as a reminder when roasting or baking food in an oven.
If a fire starts, don't use an overhead fan, which can spread the flames. Leave the kitchen immediately if the fire can't be extinguished quickly, then call the fire department from a safe location.
