The GVFD Wants You To Have A Fire-Free Holiday

From the City of Golden Valley:

Posted 12-22-2019

Unattended cooking and candles are the leading cause of fires, especially during the holidays, according to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). Such fires caused an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries, and $264 million in direct property damage between 2012–2016. The Golden Valley Fire Department urges residents to take extra caution this time of year.

Especially when hosting guests or decorating your home for the holiday, many people forget some of the most basic fire safety tips.

• Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Keep decorations away from windows and doors as to not block any potential fire escape routes.
• Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan if they are staying the night.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove top.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, in an accessible place.

Learn more about holiday fire safety and other fire safety tips on the NFPA website.

This press release was produced by the City of Golden Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.