Holiday Safety Tips

LIBERTY, December 5, 2007 - To encourage everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season the City of Liberty Fire Department recommends the following holiday safety and decorating tips.

• Select a fresh Christmas tree that is kept in water at all times. Needles on fresh tress should be green and should fall off easily. Don’t put your tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Dried out Christmas trees can ignite easily and boost a fire by spreading it rapidly to nearby combustible materials.
• Place your Christmas tree in a safe place, away from heat sources such as a fireplace or heat vent.
• Maintain your holiday lights. Inspect your lights before you use them to ensure they don’t’ have frayed wires, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets of excessive war. Only use lighting that is listed by an approved testing laboratory and don’t leave the lights on when you’re not home.
• Avoid overloaded electrical outlets. Don’t’ link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch.
• Use only nonflammable decorations that are placed away from heat vents and if you’re using an artificial tree, make sure they it’s flame retardant.
• Avoid using candles. If you do use candles, ensure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked over.
• Do not leave lit candles unattended, never put candles on a Christmas tree and never leave the house with candles burning. Place menorahs away from vents or flammable materials.
• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that flue is open.
• Keep a screen in front of the fireplace at the time a fire is burning.
• Keep matches, lighters and candles out of reach of children.
• Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.

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