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The
Dangers of Decorations
(Reprint of article by
Pam
Miller, Snohomish County Fire Marshal)
‘Tis the season! Christmas.
Hanukkah. Kwanzaa. Festival of Lights. Yes, this holiday period is a time of
great celebration, tradition, beauty and…danger.
All those Yule logs, menorahs,
votive candles, luminaries, tree ornaments and holiday greens may be
time-honored decorative touches. But they also can be accidents waiting to
happen. And happen they do, every holiday season. Asphyxiations. Chokings.
Poisonings. And house fires.
"Major factors that
increase the risk of fire in the home during the holidays are defective
decorative lights and careless use of candles and fireplaces," says
Snohomish County Fire Marshal Pam Miller.
Candles are of particular
concern this year because of their growing popularity, not only for
decorative uses but also for aromatherapy and spiritual practices. The
National Candle Association reports candles sales have grown by 10-15
percent yearly during the past decade. Candles are used in seven out of
every 10 U.S. households.
That increased use has resulted
in increased misuse. In the 1980s, candles were responsible for 1.1
percent of home structure fires, according to the National Fire Protection
Association. In 1997, that figure had jumped to 2.9 percent, causing 11,600
fires, 156 deaths and more than $171-million in property damage.
Historically, there are twice
as many home candle fires in December as there are in an average month.
Candles cause 43 percent of all home decoration fires.
A graphic case in point
occurred the evening of December 2, when an unattended candle ignited a
Bremerton home and took the lives of two teenaged girls.
"This is a big potential
problem this year," says Miller. "The sad thing is all these fires
are preventable. Three-quarters of candle fires occur because candles are
left unattended and 40 percent are caused by combustibles too close to the
candle."
Here are some tips for safe
enjoyment of candles this holiday season:
Unlit
candles are much safer than lit candles. But if you do light your
candles, make sure they are placed in stable holders or on a trivet.
Always put candles on a level surface where they cannot be easily
knocked over.
- Never
leave the house or go to sleep with candles burning.
- Never
put lit candles on a tree.
- Glass
containers can break. If you find a chip or crack, discard it. Do not
allow a glass container to burn dry.
- Allow
ample overhead clearance and make sure candles are not too close to a
wall, near combustible materials, near dry greenery, draperies, sheers,
lampshades, garments, or in an enclosed area.
- Keep
candles out of reach of children and pets.
- Keep
burning candles out of direct drafts. This includes air and heat vents,
open doors and windows, and people traffic. A draft may cause the wick
or flame to draw too near to the sides and may fracture the glass.
- Never
drop burned matches or other objects into candles.
- When
the candle is cool, trim the wick with scissors to no more than ¼-inch.
A longer wick is prone to dark smoking, especially with more fragrant
candles. Also, a longer wick is more apt to burn off-center creating a
hot spot on the side of the container that could cause it to fracture.
- Choose
high-quality candles. Inferior wax emits more smoke. Beeswax burns
cleanest.
Unfortunately,
candles aren’t the only cause of seasonal house fires. Here are some
safety tips for other types of holiday decorations:
 Outdoor
Lights
- Be
sure to purchase only lights that bear the mark of an approved testing
laboratory.
- Inspect
holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the
insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear
before putting them up. Wires should not be warm to the touch. Replace
any frayed or damaged cords.
- For
outside decorations, use only those lights labeled for outdoor use.
- Use
only insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Make sure lights are
securely fastened to prevent wind damage.
- If
your outdoor outlets don’t have ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), have an electrician replace them before you use them. Test all
GFCIs once a month (by pressing the test button), then make sure they
are reset.
- Bring
outdoor lights inside following the holidays so they are not damaged by
extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.
- Always
unplug all lights before leaving home or going to sleep and don't
overload electrical outlets.
Indoor Lights
- Be
sure to purchase only lights that bear the mark of an approved testing
laboratory.
- Inspect
holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the
insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear
before putting them up.
- Wires
should not be warm to the touch. Replace any frayed or damaged cords.
- Always
unplug all lights before leaving home or going to sleep and don't
overload electrical outlets.
- Do
not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate
it is safe.
- Connect
strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the
outlet.
- Use
only battery-operated lights if you have a metal Christmas tree, or
decorate without lighting.
- Do
not overload electrical outlets.
- Do
not leave holiday lights on unattended. Be sure to unplug all lights
before going to sleep or leaving the house.
Tree
Ornaments
- All
decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away
from heat vents and other heat sources.
- Put
decorations high enough on the tree so you child or pet can’t reach
them. Children can choke or cut their mouths on ornaments, ornament
hangers or tinsel. They also can be poisoned by older painted ornaments
that contain lead.
- Hang
one of the new fire alarm tree ornaments.
Wreaths
and Greens
- Do
not place greens near a fireplace, candles or any other open flame or
heat source.
- Do
not go near a holiday tree or greens with an open flame such as candles,
cigarettes, lighters or matches. Do not flick cigarette ashes near
greens.
- Holly
and mistletoe are poisonous. Keep them away from children!
- Poinsettias
can cause severe stomachaches if swallowed.
Other
Decorations
- Keep
wrapping paper away from candles and electric lights.
- Promptly
remove all discarded packages and wrappings from the house.
- Never
burn wrapping paper in a fireplace. It can throw off dangerous sparks
and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an
explosion.
- Wear
gloves to avoid eye or skin irritation while working with spun glass
("angel hair").
- Follow
container directions when using artificial snow sprays.
- If
you burn luminaries (votive candles in paper bags), be sure they are
placed well away from any wood or other flammable materials. Use
flame-resistant bags. Don’t use in strong wind.
Finally,
make sure—as you should every season—that you have working smoke alarms
installed on every level of your home. Test them monthly and keep them clean
and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call
for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.
If
you have to report a fire, medical emergency, or have any questions about
fire prevention, please DO NOT hesitate to contact the:
LYNN FIRE
DEPARTMENT
Emergency Number: 9-1-1
Business/Questions: 781-592-1000
or
your areas local Fire Department.
Credit
for article:
Pam Miller, Snohomish County
Fire Marshal, (425) 388-3557, ext. 2780; Wayne Lee, Public Involvement,
(425) 388-3789
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