Beware of fire hazards this holiday season. (ID 63605389 © Andreykuzmin | Dreamstime.com)

By Keaton Brown

fire safety tips

Think fire safety when setting up Christmas displays this holiday season

Dec 9, 2019 | 2:00 PM

A lot of houses around the Battlefords are starting to become more and more festive as the holiday season approaches, which means it is a good time to exercise fire safety.

There are three main areas of the household that are particularly vulnerable to seasonal fire safety hazards: the living room, the kitchen and the exterior.

Acting Fire Chief Lindsay Holm said one of the main concerns this time of year in regards to fire safety is Christmas trees drying out and becoming combustible.

“Right around this time of year, the one thing we suggest, is if you have a natural tree to make sure it is watered. If it does dry out and you have lights on them there is a very high potential for them to catch fire. We want to make sure we are watering our trees and make sure it has a sufficient supply of water at all times,” he said.

Another potentially hazardous situation in the living room is overloaded power outlets and electrical circuits.

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“I’d recommend that any time you are having a lot of lights around Christmas time to make sure that they are equipped with power bars so there is some circuit protection in case an overload happens,” he said. “Make sure you aren’t overloading any receptacles. Most receptacles are only designed to just run items so anytime you are over that you want to make sure you have a power bar installed for that extra protection.”

The holiday season is also a time when the family kitchen gets a fairly hefty workout. Baked goods, holiday treats and Christmas dinners require significant attention regardless of what distractions are around for the holidays.

“I would make sure that anytime you are cooking through the holiday season is that everything you are cooking is always attended. One thing that does tend to happen when you have family gatherings is that you can have a lot of conversations happening and sometimes your attention wanes from your cooking. So just make sure that if you are cooking or baking you are attending it at all times,” Holm said.

The final potentially dangerous holiday hazard is the extravagant Christmas displays in people’s yards and rooftops. Holm said you should make sure to use the proper equipment to ensure that to ensure everything is running safely.

“What I would recommend for any outdoor lighting is that if you are powering it with an extension cord to make sure you are using a heavy grade outdoor cord that is sufficient to handle the load you are expecting. Using an indoor cord for an outdoor use is where you are going to end up having some problems for sure,” he said.

Holm said the fire department wants to make sure everyone is having a safe and merry Christmas and that they are thinking of fire safety when cooking or setting up their Christmas displays.

—

Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow