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The holidays are a time to gather friends and family together. A time to make memories and celebrate. The holidays are also a time that home fires increase. The Excelsior District Firefighters want you to be safe during the holidays. Here are some fire facts and simple tips to follow.
- Candles use has increased over the last decade and so has the cause of fires due to candles. In December, the number of monthly candle fires nearly doubles, and the leading source of fuel is holiday decorations.
- Candles should NEVER be left in a room unattended. Blow them out before you go out or go to sleep.
- So children are not tempted to light decorative candles, cut the wicks off of them. Trim any candlewick to a quarter inch before lighting.
- Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn. Christmas trees, decorations, curtains, and any combustible materials.
- Never place a candle in a window or near any doorway.
- Use a sturdy, non-flammable candleholder that won’t’ tip over easily and is large enough to collect dripping wax.
- A Christmas tree is a beautiful site when is decked out with all its trimmings. A Christmas tree becomes a lighted torch when it catches fire. When a Christmas tree catches on fire it can literally explode in flames. The needles on a tree and the sap are highly flammable. Christmas tree fire safety starts before you place the fist bulb on a branch.
- Cut your own tree or buy a fresh tree that is not shedding its needles. A simple shack at the tree lot is a good test.
- Until you are ready to move your tree inside, keep it outside in the cold and sheltered from the sun.
- When you are ready to move it inside, cut 1 inch off the trunk of the tree at an angle. To avoid the trunk from being resealed by the trees sap put it in water immediately.
- Keep your tree watered!!!! Your tree will be very thirsty when you first place it in water. Never let the water level go below the cut. The truck will reseal.
- Keep you tree from any heat source that would dry it out, including heat vents.
- After the holidays, discard your tree properly. Call your local city hall to find out if they have curbside pick up. No part of an evergreen should be burned in a fireplace. The sap can collect in you chimney and eventually start a chimney fire. Parts of the tree can travel out of the chimney and land on your roof and start your house on fire. The Excelsior Fire District responds to two to three chimney fires a year caused by burning evergreens.
- A damaged decorative light set on a tree is the same as putting a lighted match on it. Only use lights labeled independent testing lab. Discard all cracked, damaged, and frayed light sets. Do not overload outlets or run extenuation cords under rugs, carpet, or across doorways.
- Turn off or unplug the lights before you go out or go to bed. An unattended tree is the same as an unattended candle or cooking.
The Fire District would like to suggest an addition to your holiday gift-giving list. Wrap up a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, or a fire extinguisher for your family and friends. Let them know you care by giving them gifts that could save their lives.
Information and brochures on holiday safety are available by calling Kellie at 952-960-1692.
Christmas Tree Reminder
After the holidays, discard your tree properly. Call your local city hall to find out if they have curbside pick up. No part of an evergreen should be burned in a fireplace. The sap can collect in you chimney and eventually start a chimney fire. Parts of the tree can travel out of the chimney and land on your roof and start your house on fire. The Excelsior Fire District responds to two to three chimney fires a year caused by burning evergreens.
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Fire Safety|Code|Permit