Holiday Fire Safety

They might look nice in a photo, but candles are a serious fire hazard and should NEVER be used to decorate a tree.

Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner reminds us that most fires can be prevented and this is no different at Christmas time. He recommends that you follow these important fire safety tips:

Decorate with flame-retardant or non-combustible materials
Don’t leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of children
Ensure that candles are located well away from any combustible materials and never use candles to decorate a Christmas tree.
Christmas wrapping and decorations can be highly combustible and should be kept away from heat sources.
Recycle gift-wrap and boxes where appropriate, do not burn them in the fireplace they may cause a chimney fire.
Use only approved Christmas lights.
Do not overload electrical circuits or extension cords.
Always turn Christmas lights off before leaving home or going to sleep.

Christmas trees only take seconds to become fully engulfed in flames.

Chief Schreiner also urges all residents to practice fire safety in the kitchen during the festive season. “Do not leave cooking food unattended and if you are faced with a grease fire, put a lid on it! Remember, always turn pot handles to the back of the stove when cooking, to avoid pots being pulled or knocked off”.

The importance of early warning in the event of a fire should not be gotten. This holiday season, give a gift that saves lives-give someone you love a smoke alarm. Also ensure that your friends and family are protected year round with working smoke alarms in their homes.

Working smoke alarms really do save lives.