Christmas season is here and that means it is even more important to understand fire safety.
Manhattan Fire Department Marshall, Jake Powell, says historically the number of house fires increase during the winter months. He says there are a few simple things you can do this holiday season to keep your home safer including using lights in their proper places. He tells KMAN why it is important to use lights for their intended purpose.
“They’re designed to be indoor only,” Powell says. “They’re not supposed to be outside, exposed to the weather. There is probably a lighter covering on the wires, so it’s less resistant to damage from cold and heat and abrasion against the ground or trees.”
Powell says along with the correct lights, it is also important to choose the right tree and place it away from any heat source in your home.
“Choose one that’s got needles that aren’t dried out, that are staying attached when they get touched,” Powell says. “Once you get it home make sure you cut that bottom couple inches off the trunk so it’s got a fresh place to draw water up and water it daily. Then once that tree dries out and starts dropping needles, it’s time to get it out of your house. they become extremely dry and flammable.”
Powell offers one final fire safety tip for the holiday season. Powell says the holiday season typically brings more cooking, and says cooking fires are the number one cause of residential fires. Powell adds that the only thing that should be placed on the stovetop is a pot or pan of food. He says that placing anything else near the stovetop can be dangerous.
“It’s very easy to have a burner that was on and not cooled off, or accidentally gets bumped and turned on. We’ve had several fires over the years that were caused by burners getting turned on inadvertently and igniting something on the stovetop,” he says.
Powell says it is important to be aware of any and all appliances that produce heat in your home.
