Fire prevention tips help keep holidays happy

  • Published
  • By Incirlik Fire Department
  • 39th Civil Engineer Squadron
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The holiday season is a time to celebrate with family and friends. Unfortunately, it is also the time of year when people face a much greater risk of home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 600 house fires occur each year during the holiday season, making it the most dangerous time of year for fires. The 39th Civil Engineer Squadron's Fire and Emergency Services Flight offers these holiday season fire safety awareness tips to help prevent a fire from occurring at home and to keep families safe:

Christmas trees: A dried-out evergreen tree is an extremely dangerous fire hazard. Buy a freshly cut tree; beware of any tree with brittle or shedding needles. Stand the tree on a sturdy, non-trip tree stand; keep it away from heat sources, such as radiators, television sets and fireplaces. Ensure it does not block room exits. Do not put it in front of balcony doors, this is a second means of escape. Check the water level daily; discard the tree when the water absorption stops. When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as "fire-retardant."

Holiday lighting: When decorating with lights, only purchase lights that have a testing laboratory label, such as UL, or Turkish equivalent TSE. Use extension cords sparingly. Check for frayed or damaged cords; replace those cords that show such wear and tear. Do not overload electrical outlets and always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to sleep. Indoor electric equipment is not safe outdoors. For outside decorations, use only those lights labeled for outdoor use.

Candles: Exercise extreme caution when burning candles. Be sure they are kept well away from decorations and other combustible materials. Never leave children unattended in a room with lit candles. Always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children. Do not display lit candles in windows, as curtains are apt to ignite, especially when the window is left open and do not leave them unattended.

Holiday parties: Decorate only with flame retardant or noncombustible materials. Provide guests with large, deep ashtrays and empty them frequently. After parties, check for discarded cigarette butts inside and under upholstery (couches, love seats, etc.) and in trashcans. A cigarette butt left in these places can smolder and ignite into a fire hours after going to sleep. In the vast majority of cases, it is not the resulting fire, but rather the initial smoke build-up that kills people as they sleep.

Kitchen fire safety: Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States. Never leave the kitchen when something is cooking and always turn pot handles in so curious children do not pull the pot down onto themselves. Do not store items on the stovetop, as they can easily catch fire. Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition; make certain to turn them off when finished cooking. People who experience a cooking fire should put a lid on it; if possible, turn the stove off; evacuate their homes, and call the base fire department from a neighbor's home. Home fires and injuries caused by fires are not on anyone's wish list. Common sense and a little imagination can make for a holiday celebration that is not only enjoyable and festive, but also safe. For more information, call the fire prevention office at 676-3021. (Courtesy Incirlik fire department)