Avoid holiday heartache: follow safety tips
Jasper Fire Marshal says be prepared, don't create hazards
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr DON'T INVITE TROUBLE to your holiday celebration. Many fire hazards are avoidable by following common sense precautions, according to Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson.

The last person you want to see at your door this holiday season is a firefighter in full gear, and yet many families thoughtlessly create extra fire hazards in their homes in the name of holiday cheer.

A fire at any time is devastating, but it seems doubly so when it happens during Christmas, when there are gifts that will never be opened, a tree that was just decorated but not enjoyed, the anticipated Christmas morning and holiday feast that won't happen...

Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson says, "People need to be prepared, just in case."

These tips could save your holiday:

Kitchen cautions

Leaving cooking unattended is always a bad idea. You may step out to greet a neighbor, "just for a minute," and before you know it, black smoke is billowing out the kitchen door.

Even if you are in the kitchen, you may have more pots and pans going that you usually keep up with, or "helpers" who only know one setting: high. Williamson says that you should keep baking soda and the lids to pots and pans within easy reach.

"Should a fire start, the fire can be extinguished by placing the lid on the pan to smother the fire, or by putting baking soda on the fire." Williamson adds, "Do NOT use water or flour on a kitchen fire."

Even better would be a fire extinguisher. If you have one, check the date to see if it is time to service or replace it.

Crock pots and many other specialty cooking appliances can be time savers, but they also can cause problems, especially if guests bring their own and you have more devices than plugs.

"If using crock pots or other electrical appliances, make sure that you are not overloading an outlet," Williamson says.

For microwaves, The Jasper-Newton Electric Coop says, "If the food you're preparing catches fire, unplug the cord immediately but do not open the door. That would only feed oxygen to the fire. Wait for the fire to extinguish, then remove the contents from the oven."

Deep frying turkeys, a fad that is becoming a holiday favorite, presents hazards on so many levels that Underwriters Laboratories refuses to certify any turkey fryers, and several cities have banned their use.

The UL website says, "If you absolutely must use turkey fryers, (they) should be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn."

Open Flames

The lyrics to the 1945 hit Let it Snow say, "The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful." For many, the holidays aren't complete without a roaring yule log, even if in Texas that may mean turning the air conditioner on at the same time. Add extra combustibles to the room like the tree, wrapping paper, ribbons and boxes, stockings and mantle decorations...

Chimney Sweeps of America recommend these safety precautions:

Inspect the fireplace before building a fire, open the damper, and be sure the chimney is clear. Do not burn trash, boxes or gift wrapping, which can give off deadly fumes inside, and flying paper embers outside can ignite the roof. Don't overload the fireplace, always use a screen, and don't allow children to play with or around the fire. Make sure the fire is completely extinguished before going to bed or leaving the house.

Candles are also used more often and in more places during the holidays.

"Christmas Day holds the record for the highest number of reported home candle fires," according to Lorraine Carli of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

"Consumers should keep in mind that if they're going to use candles, they need to place them away from things that can burn... and away from children and pets to avoid the risk of having them accidentally tipped over."

The grim statistics, according to NFPA, are more than 15,000 home fires, 150 deaths and more than half a billion dollars in damage results from candle fires per year.

Outside, building a bonfire or burning leaves requires precautions. Even with recent heavy rains, Williamson says, "Common sense ought to tell you that with windy conditions, it is not the time to light a fire." He adds that a controlled burn is not controlled unless someone is watching it the entire time.

That person must have a means to suppress the fire, like a garden hose with the water turned on. Williamson defines "the entire time" as being until the embers are out, "until you could put your bare finger into the ashes and not get burned."

Indoors, Williamson said space heaters can be a fire hazard. "Fuel-fired heaters (natural gas, kerosene, propane) need to be vented (a window left open slightly) and a CO2 detector to ensure safety.

"Electric heaters should be plugged directly into the wall outlet or with heavy duty extension cords. All heaters need a minimum three-foot area around them that is free of anything that can burn," according to Williamson.

Trees and decorations

Christmas trees and other holiday decorations are right up there with candles as the source of holiday home fires, according to the NFPA.

"If ignited, a dry tree can become engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds, as opposed to a well-watered tree," according to a NFPA press release.

Beth Walterscheidt, a tree farmer from Texas and president of the National Christmas Tree Association, recommends, "Families should make a fresh cut to the trunk and place the tree in water as soon as possible... Trees that are kept fresh are extremely difficult to ignite (but) if the water level falls below the cut surface for more than four to six hours, the tree's ability to keep absorbing moisture is inhibited."

Fresh greenery used as decoration that is not in water dries out quickly and should be discarded or replaced often.

When decorating with light strands, check for frayed wires or cracked plugs, and read labels. Some strands can be plugged into each other, but with limits as to how many strands can safely be connected.

Light strands with a green holographic UL mark are for indoor use only; red holographic UL marks are for indoor or outdoor use. New LED light strands are more energy efficient and cool to the touch.

People who create displays of lighted holiday villages, have electric trains running, and plug-in extra devices for music and lights may overload outlets or create a fire hazard with extension cords.

"If an extension cord is hot to the touch during use, it is a warning that the extension cord is not able to handle the job," Williamson says, "Replace the extension cord with a heavy duty cord or move things to allow the devices to be plugged directly into wall outlets."

As with fires, candles, and cooking, do not leave the house or go to bed until you have doused, extinguished, or switched off the hazards that could ruin your holiday.