Holiday tips for fire safety

Preventing fire hazards from interfering with holiday

By: Lacey Korevec
   Logs in the fireplace burn, as children tear eagerly through wrapping paper to get to their holiday gifts. On the coffee table, a lit candle emits the sweet smell of gingerbread cookies. The window is bordered with a rainbow of Christmas lights and the curtains are loosely lined with streams of garland.
   It’s a common scene in many households during this time of year, but Cranbury Fire Chief Sam DiStasio said it’s especially important that families think about fire safety with all of the additional hazards the holidays bring.
   Candles, dried out Christmas trees, holiday lights and fireplaces can become dangerous if not properly cared for, he said.
   "You have to make sure the trees don’t dry out," he said. "And you have to be careful with candles and everything in the area around trees and just candles in general."
   While he said the Cranbury Fire Company does not notice an increase in calls reporting house fires during the holidays, he said he believes the risk does increase during this time of year.
   "In the past, we have not really had an increase of calls," Chief DiStasio said. "But I’m sure other communities do see it."
   In most cases, the key to protecting a home from fires is maintenance, he said, even when it comes to Christmas trees.
   "If they don’t keep water in them and keep the trees hydrated, the needles dry out and pine trees become very flammable at that point," he said.
   As far as lights go, he said it’s important to make sure they are not damaged in any way and will not cause an electrical fire.
   "People should check their lights to make sure they’re still in working order, none of the wires are frayed or anything like that," he said. "And they have to be careful when plugging them in not to overload the circuits of a house by using a lot of extension cords."
   Chief DiStasio also said he does not recommend leaving Christmas lights on for long periods of time when nobody is home.
   "I know some people put timers on them so that they go off at certain times," he said. "If you leave them on constantly, I think someone should be around to make sure they aren’t malfunctioning or causing any hazards."
   He said the same principle applies for candles, which should never be left unattended.
   "If there is any open flame and people are not going to be in the house, they should really make sure it’s extinguished before they go out," he said. "Anything that’s unattended could turn into a hazard."
   Fireplaces also could become hazardous, especially if chimneys are not properly cleaned, he said.
   "I know they have to be cleaned periodically," he said. "And if they’re unsure, then they need to contact a fireplace company and find out what the cleaning requirements are and how they should be done."
   It’s also always a good idea for families to check their smoke detectors, he said, which should be done no matter what time of year it is.
   "If you haven’t already done it, make sure the batteries in your smoke detectors are replaced," he said. "It’s recommended, I think, that the batteries be replaced twice a year."
   All of these precautions should be taken seriously all year long, he said. And as long as people follow them and pay close attention to what is going on in their households, Cranbury residents should be in good shape as far as fire safety goes, he said.
   "If people just watch what they’re doing," he said, "and just check their lights and be aware of the hazards that exist with the decorations, everybody should be safe and sound."
   But Chief DiStasio wanted to remind residents that in case of a fire, they should call 911 immediately and get out of the house.
   "Just get out to where you’re safe and where your family members are safe," he said. "And we’ll come do our job."