State Fire Marshal's Office offers decorating and entertaining safety tips | Home & Garden

The Christmas and New Year holidays are a time for families and friends to get together.  Your Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds you, however that entertaining and decorating can also mean a greater risk for fire.  Following are a few simple safety tips designed to ensure a happy and safe winter holiday season. 

DECORATING

• Be careful with decorations by choosing flame resistant or flame retardant materials.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations or anything that can burn.
• Some lighting is designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both so be sure to read manufacturer’s instructions.
• Replace any string of lights with broken or frayed cords or loose bulb connections and, again, read manufacturer’s instructions for numbers of strands which may be connected.
• Use clips, not nails or staples to hang lights so the cords remain undamaged.
• Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

ENTERTAINING

• Test your smoke alarms and inform guests of your home fire escape plan.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside and remind them to keep their smoking materials with them and away from children.
• Provide large, deep ashtrays outside for smokers; wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.

Before heading out or to bed, blow or snuff out all lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed, and turn off all light strings and decorations.  Always keep Christmas trees or other decorations at least three feet away from any heat source such as candles, fireplaces or heaters.  Merry Christmas and happy New Year from your friends at the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s office.  For more information about the SFMO please visit our website at www.firemarshal.alabama.gov.

Source:  State Fire Marshal's Office