Ensure home fires do not extinguish holiday fun Published Dec. 6, 2004 By Inge Lersche 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Prevention SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- 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, many house fires occur each year during the holiday season, making it the most dangerous time of year. Officials from the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron’s fire and emergency services flight offer holiday season fire safety awareness tips to help prevent a fire: 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, nontrip 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 the tree in front of balcony doors, which are a secondary means of escape. Check the tree’s water level daily and 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, purchase only lights that are certified by Underwriters Laboratory or the equivalent at overseas locations. Use extension cords sparingly. Check for frayed or damaged cords and replace those that show wear and tear. Do not overload electrical outlets, and always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to sleep. For outside decorations, use only those 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 lighted candles. Always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children. Do not display lighted candles in windows, as curtains may ignite, especially when the window is left open and wind blows a curtain over the candle. Never use candles to decorate Christmas trees. Holiday parties: Decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. Provide guests who smoke with large, deep ashtrays and empty them frequently. After parties, check for discarded cigarette butts inside and under couches and chairs and in trashcans. A cigarette butt left in these places can smolder and ignite into a fire hours later. In the vast majority of cases, it is not the resulting fire, but rather the initial smoke buildup that kills people as they sleep. Kitchen fire safety: Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States. The rate of unattended cooking fires spikes during the holidays. Never leave the kitchen when something is cooking on the stove and always turn pot handles inward so curious children cannot pull the pot down onto themselves. Wear tight-fitting clothes when cooking, as loose clothes can be ignited readily by hot burners. Do not store items on the stovetop, as they can catch fire easily. Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition; make certain to turn them off when finished cooking. In case of a stovetop fire, attempt to cover the burning pot with a lid, turn the stove off, evacuate the house and call the base fire department from a cell phone or neighbor’s house. Home fires and injuries caused by them are not on anyone’s Christmas list. Common sense and a little imagination can make for a holiday celebration that is not only enjoyable and festive, but also safe, officials said. For more information, call your fire prevention office. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)