Holiday Safety Tips

Trees

Keep your tree away from fireplaces, wood burning stoves, portable heaters or other sources of heat.
Place the tree in an area where it will not block your escape path in the event of an emergency.

Fresh Trees

Choose a fresh tree. Do not buy a tree with shedding needles.
Before mounting your tree in a sturdy stand, cut 1" from the truck and immediately submerge in water. This keeps sap from clogging water flow.
Fill tree stand with water daily (or more often as needed) so the tree does not dry out. The average 6-foot tree has a 4-inch diameter truck and can consume as much as 1 gallon of water per day.

Artificial Trees

Be sure that plastic trees have the UL Label, and that they are labeled as flame retardant.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.

Lights

Use only lights that have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.
Carefully inspect each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Discard any damaged light sets.
Check packaging to determine the maximum number of strings that may be connected together.
Use only extension cords that have a built-in circuit breaker.
Do not run cords under throw rugs or carpets.
Check labels on lights before using them outdoors. Never use indoor lights outside.
Always unplug lights before you go to bed or leave the house.

Candles, Matches and Lighters

Never use burning candles on your tree or as part of wreaths.
Keep candles away from decorations, drapes, furniture and other combustibles.
Use sturdy, non-combustible candleholders that can collect dripping wax and won't tip over.
Purchase only child-resistant lighters.
Always keep matches, lighters and candles out of the reach of children, and don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles. Teach young children to bring matches and lighters to an adult.
Always extinguish candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Fireplaces, Wood Stoves and Heating Equipment

Have your chimney and vents inspected annually before burning fire in the fireplace.
Keep all combustible materials away from fireplaces and wood stoves. Keep portable heaters a minimum of 3 feet from furniture, drapes, blankets and other combustibles.
Install a spark arrester with a 1/2" mesh screen on chimney or stovepipe outlets to prevent flying embers from igniting a roof fire.
Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
Use a screen to enclose the front of your fireplace to confine live embers and sparks. Keep Christmas stockings, holiday decorations, and furniture at a safe distance from fireplace.
Never burn Christmas trees or wrapping paper in the fireplace or wood stove. Both burn very intensely and may cause a roof or chimney fire.
Firelogs (such as duraflame) Usage and Safety Tips:
- DO NOT use in wood stoves or BBQS.
- DO NOT use for cooking.
- Burn only ONE log at a time - the wax component of the product produces twice the BTU heat value per pound of wood, allowing one firelong to provide a fire equivalent to several pieces of wood. Burning more than one log at a time could result in too large or too hot of fire in your fireplace.
- Position logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
- DO NOT use pokers or tongs to move firelogs. These logs are designed to burn in a controlled manner and do not require tending.
Consider replacing your wood burning fireplace with a gas fireplace. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Wood Smoke Rebate Program opens Tuesday, November 18, 2008, at 2:00 pm. Rebates of $200 will be offered to convert to gas fireplace inserts and stoves. For more information, visit: http://www.sparetheair.org/.

Holiday Parties and Smoking

Carelessness with smoking materials is the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States.

Don't smoke near the tree or decorations.
Have large ashtrays with center supports available for smokers.
Check for cigarette butts in upholstered furniture before you go to bed.
Wait until ashes are cool before disposing of them.

Be Prepared

Install smoke alarms inside and outside all sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace batteries annually.
Install fire extinguishers where they are easily accessible. Train family members how and when to use fire extinguishers.
Make a home escape plan with family members. Your plan should include two exits out of every room and a common meeting place outside. Practice your home escape plan.
Teach family members that if a fire does occur to crawl low under smoke to make a safe escape.
Teach all family members how to report an emergency by calling 911.

Holiday Gift Ideas

Smoke alarms
Fire extinguishers
Escape ladders
First aid kits
Earthquake kits
Flashlights
Portable radios
New batteries for smoke alarms, flashlights and portable radios

For a version of this page in a printable format, click: Holiday Safety Tips. [pdf; 40k]

For additional safety information:

Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA): www.csia.org
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): www.cpsc.gov
Duraflame, Inc.: http://www.duraflame.com/aa_faq/faq01.php#
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): www.nfpa.org