Posted on: Sunday, November 28, 2004
Firefighters wish you a safer holiday season
Advertiser Staff
Cooking
• Kitchen fires are one of the leading causes of fires. Never leave food cooking unattended and remain attentive while the stovetop and oven are in use.
• Keep lids within reach. In the event of a pan fire, place the lid over the pan to smother flames or use an approved fire extinguisher to put out the flames. In the event of an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the oven door closed. Evacuate and call 911 to report a fire.
Christmas tree safety
• Consider purchasing a fire-resistant or fire-retardant artificial tree because they are safer and cleaner.
• A fresh tree should not lose green needles when tapped on the ground. Fresh needles should be green; should be hard to pull back from the branches; and should not break. The trunk should feel sticky.
• Leave a fresh tree outside until ready to decorate.
• Cut 1 inch off the bottom of the trunk to allow the tree to absorb water.
• Clean the tree stand to improve the tree's water intake. Use a capful of bleach to a cup of water. The stand should hold at least 1 gallon of water and be the proper size for the tree base to prevent tipping.
• Check the water level daily. A 6-foot tree will use a half-gallon of water every day. Mix a commercial preservative into the water.
• Keep the tree away from all flames and heat sources.
• Before decorating the tree, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning installation and maintenance of the electrical decorations. Use only lights that are listed by an approved testing laboratory such as UL or FM. Use the correct lights for indoor and outdoor use (most light sets are designated for one or the other but not both).
• Never use electrical lights on a metal tree. If any of the wiring is faulty, it could energize the entire tree and cause a deadly shock.
• Check the manufacturer's instructions on the electrical decorations to determine the maximum number of decorative lights (light strings) and decorations that may be connected to each other. If the product packaging does not indicate the number of light strings, practice this rule: Do not connect more than three light strings together.
• Before plugging in new or used electrical decorations, carefully inspect each for cracked sockets, frayed, loose or bare wires, and loose connections that may cause shock or start a fire.
• Do not allow children or pets to play with electrical decorations, as these products could produce a deadly shock if they are misused.
• Do not overload extension cords. It could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
• Consider using miniature lights that have cool-burning bulbs.
• Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.
• Do not mount or support light strings in any way that may damage the cord's wire insulation.
• The leading heat source attributed to Christmas tree fires, civilian injuries and property damage is electrical arcing. The leading types of equipment involved in the ignition of Christmas trees are lights, cords and plugs.
• Use caution with holiday decorations and, whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or noncombustible materials.
Disposing of your tree
• Never try to burn your tree. Flames can consume a dry tree in seven to 10 seconds, with flames as high as 30 feet and smoke that will fill a large room. You cannot control the fire. A house on O'ahu was destroyed on Christmas 2002 after an open flame ignited the tree.
• The best way to dispose of your old tree is to take it to a recycling center. Don't leave it in the house or garage or leaning against the house.
