Staying fire safe

Times Reporter  

 

The holiday season is a time to spend with family, celebrating and being together. It’s also the time when there is more risk of a house fire. When a cold spell comes many people are running their fireplaces so it’s important to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working and that everything is clean and operating properly. If you’re burning wood, make sure the chimney if clear and there is no creosote built up. 

Another trouble spot over the holiday season is Christmas trees. 

“There are still some traditionalists out there that want to put candles on their tree, little candles. Get away from that, go to LED lights, they’re cool for the temperature rating and they’re more safe than a bulb light,” said Muir Furzer, Strathmore Fire Department Fire Chief. 

“Make sure the trees are watered, make sure they’re still moist … which reduces the heat and fuel load on them.”

A dried-out tree can be completely consumed by fire in 30 seconds. There are three different freshness tests that can be done to ensure your tree is freshly cut. 

The branch test is when you draw the end of the branch through the cup of your hand. No needles should come off. For the stump test you can bang the tree stump end on the ground. A fresh cut tree will not lose its green needles. Finally there is the needle test: fold a needle back until the tip touches the stem. The needle should not break and should bounce back to its original form unless it is frozen.  

Another area of safety concern is the kitchen. 

“Because we’re having lots of family members over at Christmas time we just have to be more cautious about what’s going on. You have to make sure you have home safety in mind,” said Furzer.

Being careful that little kids aren’t playing around the stove is one step to take so that no accidents happen. The Strathmore Fire Department doesn’t respond to a lot of fire calls, but Furzer said in his five years as chief the department has responded to the occasional Christmas fire, so it does happen and is something you should always be aware of.

“It’s a lot to do with cooking. You’re setting up your stove and cooking and you get preoccupied and caught up in all the excitement and in the spirit of Christmas, then you forget about the hot stove running and things catch fire,” said Furzer. 

Staying aware of the hazards, and ensuring your tree is fresh cut and kept moist are just a few ways to stay safe this holiday season. More tips on holiday fire safety can be found at http://www.aema.alberta.ca/holidayfiresafety.cfm.