Fire Safety Tips for the Holidays

Since it's one of those years when Hanukkah overlaps with Christmas and Kwanzaa, the lights have been strung and the candles will be soon be lighted.

Just in time for the season, a cold front is expected this weekend, which, will make it feel more like like the holidays than Thursday's near 60 degrees.

But all that can create fire hazards if not supervised properly. And cold weather also creates other safety hazards, such as carbon monoxide poisoning and fires from space heaters.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that holiday lights and other decorative lighting were involved in an estimated average of 150 home fires per year between 2005 and 2009. These fires caused an average of eight civilian deaths, 14 injuries, and $8.5 million in direct property damage per year.

Millburn Fire Battalion Chief Ed Wade said Christmas tree fires, while not as common as they used to be, still occur, especially when Christmas trees are dried up and can go up quickly. A fire in a dry tree produces a lot of heat, which can ignite other materials in the area of a home. The National Fire Protection Association Youtube video attached to this story, shows how quickly a dried out Christmas Tree can burn.

Candles, used as decoration as well as for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, also pose a safety hazard if they are left unattended, Wade said. He said he had a candle one time that cracked when wax melted, and the glass at the bottom got too hot, spilling wax on the table.

"Fortunately, we were right there and could put it out and clean it up," he said.

When getting a Christmas tree, choose the freshest one you can find and don't  place it near a fire or heat source, Wade said. Placing a tree near a heat source will cause it to dry out more quickly. Plus it's important to make sure the tree holder holds a good amount of water.

"When you put your tree up, immediately fill the stand with water and check it daily," Wade said.

If you buy a pre-cut tree from a lot, you should make a fresh cut to the bottom of the tree, Wade said. The new cut will allow for the tree to absorb water better.

It's also important to make sure the lights on the tree do not have damaged wiring, Wade said. Today's lights do not produce the same amount of heat as the lights of the past, but they still can have problems with the wires, he said.

With a menorah, Wade said, people should make sure the candles are secure and stable their holders before they are lighted. The base should be firm so that it does not tip over. Candles, whether on the window sill or a table or counter, should not be left attended.

If there are children around, parents should pay attention to them around the Hanukkah menorah or Kwanza kinara, Wade said. They may become curious and get too close to the candles and knock then over.

Firefighters go out on a lot of fire alarms and calls about carbon monoxide detectors going off this time of year.

Generally, Wade said, it's usually the batteries or worn out detectors but sometimes there is carbon monoxide issue either from poor ventilation from a fireplace or furnace.

"People should always check their furnace at the beginning of winter to make sure it's working properly," he said.