Download: Winter Holiday Safety Tip Sheet
Winter holidays are a time to gather with family and friends, increasing the risk of home fires. This free resource provides simple tips for a fire-safe holiday season. The tip sheet covers holiday decorating and entertaining, what to do before going to bed, and other facts on holiday safety.
Before Heading Out or to Bed:
- Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
Facts:
- More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles.
- More than two of every five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
Holiday Decorating:
- 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.
- Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged
- Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
Holiday Entertaining:
- Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
- Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
- Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
- Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
- Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.
For more information visit: Town of Hammonton Bureau of Fire Prevention Page
Michael Ruberton
Bureau of Fire Prevention
Phone: 609-567-4300 Ext. 111
Email: mruberton@townofhammonton.org
Hours: Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.