Holiday fire safety tips

Published Dec. 19, 2013
By David Isbell
47th Civil Engineer Squadron

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Decorating your home and entertaining family and friends can help brighten the holiday season, but misusing, or using damaged decorations and other electrical products can lead to a dangerous situation, including injury, death from shock, or fire. The Laughlin Fire Emergency Services Flight encourages all its residents to increase fire safety in their home, and offers the following tips:

· Ensure the base holder of your live tree is kept full of water at all times to keep the needles as fresh as possible. A dry tree is a fire hazard and can be easily ignited.
· Keep your tree a safe distance (at least three feet) from heat sources and air vents that can dry out the tree.
· Use only Underwriters Laboratories rated electrical decorations.
· Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using light strings and other electrical decorations.
· Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
· It is safer to replace damaged or broken electrical decoration than repair.
· Turn off Christmas tree lights when leaving the home or going to bed.
· Make sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
· Develope and practice a fire escape plan for your household.

By following these safety tips you'll be on your way toward a happier and safer holiday season celebration with friends and family.

For more information on Christmas tree and holiday decoration safety contact the Fire Prevention Office at 298-5036/5037 or go to the National Fire Prevention Association website at http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/holidays/christmas-tree-fires.