FEMA Urges Residents To Be Cautious This Holiday Season
The holiday season is an especially critical time for fire safety. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), heating and cooking are the leading causes of residential building fires. Heating fires occur more often in the winter months when the use of central heating systems, portable heaters, and fireplaces is most common. The numbers of cooking fires routinely start to increase around Thanksgiving and peak in December.
FEMA encourage residents to use extra caution as they celebrate holiday season. While FEMA provides every disaster housing occupant with instructions on living safely in FEMA housing, awareness and prevention will provide the best defense against fire.
Below are some tips for a safer holiday:
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
Trees: Select a fresh tree, sticky to the touch with green needles. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If needles fall off, the tree is already dry and a fire hazard. Don't place tree near a heating vent or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Keep the tree stand filled with water. Alternatively, consider using a flame-retardant artificial tree.
Lights: Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Don't overload electrical outlets and don't link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Don't leave lights unattended.
Decorations: All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
OTHER SAFETY TIPS
Do not leave cooking food unattended. Keep all cooking surfaces clean.
Use only the cooking appliances installed in the trailer. Never use charcoal or propane grills inside the trailer. Shut off all appliances before leaving.
Ensure the propane stove is off after cooking.
Do not trap electric cords against walls where heat can build up.
Never smoke in bed. Do not use an open flame as a flashlight.
Use only electric or battery-powered lighting in travel trailers. Never use candles or lanterns for lighting, heating or cooking. Keep cooking and heating equipment away from combustibles such as paper, cloth and cardboard.
Refrain from using electric space heaters as a heat source.
Take extra care when using portable heaters. Keep bedding, clothes, curtains and other combustible items at least three feet away from space heaters.
Always keep items away from the vent exhaust outside of the travel trailer.
Only use Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) approved electric blankets and warmers. Check to make sure the cords are not frayed.
Ensure fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and smoke detectors are in working order.
For other fire safety tips, visit the USFA Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov, or www.fema.gov and click on 'Plan Ahead' and under 'Prepare for Hazards' click on 'Fire.' Families can also contact their local fire department.
Published on: 2008-11-26
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