For Immediate Release:
December 20, 2019

Media Contact:
Media and Public Relations
[email protected]
305-814-8051



‘Tis The Season To Practice Holiday Fire Safety


(MIAMI, Dec. 20, 2019) – It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, a time when we enjoy decorating our homes in order to share holiday traditions and have a festive time with family and friends. While holiday decorations give your home a festive feel, they can also be potential fire and injury hazards if you’re not careful.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 800 home fires are caused by holiday decorations every year, with an additional 170 annual home fires caused by Christmas trees alone.  Additionally, according to the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), an independent not-for-profit product-safety certification organization, around 13,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday decorations every year.

In order to ensure a festive and fire-proof holiday season, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue urges everyone to practice fire safety by following these safety guidelines:

Christmas Trees:

  • Keep your natural Christmas tree watered at all times.
  • Regularly check your tree for fresh, green needles. A hydrated tree means less chance for your tree to ignite and start a fire.
  • Place your tree away from where it can block an exit and at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, heating vents and other sources of heat.
  • Check electrical decorations for damage before use.
  • Ensure lights, decorations and extension cords are rated for outdoor or indoor use. Don’t forget to remove holidays lights from the exterior of your residence. Light strings are not meant to be up more than 90 days.
  • Do not overload extension cords by plugging in too many decorations.
  • Be careful when using ladders to install decorations inside or outside the home.
  • Turn off all electrical lights or decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
  • Dispose of your tree safely right after the holiday is over before it dries out and becomes a fire hazard.  Recycle your Christmas tree at one of 13 Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers in Miami-Dade County. For more information on holiday waste collection, recycling, and disposal facility schedule, call 311 or visit www.miamidade.gov/solidwaste.

Candles:

  • Keep candles away from anything that can burn and away from areas where they can be knocked over by a person or a pet.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate Christmas trees.
  • Never leave children or pets unattended in a room with lit candles.
  • Blow out the candles before leaving home or going to bed.
  • Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.

Ladders:

  • Set the ladder on a firm, level surface and avoid soft or muddy ground.
  • Do not carry any equipment or decorations while climbing. Wear a tool belt or have someone hand tools and decorations to you.
  • Face the ladder when climbing up or down, keeping your body centered between the side rails.

Cooking:

  • Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by creating a three-foot zone around your stove.
  • Prevent burns by turning pot handles and any cooking utensils away from the stove’s edge.

Allergies:

  • Prior to cooking, be sure to know if any of your guests have any food allergies.
  • If you have food allergies and are attending a party, ask if you can bring your favorite dish or dessert.
  • If you have food allergies, make sure to have your medicine available in case of an emergency.
  • Be alert to any symptoms of an allergic reaction: Call 9-1-1 immediately if someone has difficulty breathing, rapid pulse and dizziness as those are signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors:

  • Test your home’s smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re in working order.
  • Check and replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Replace any smoke alarms that are older than 10 years and carbon monoxide detectors older than 5 years.
  • Have a family escape plan and practice it so everyone in your home will know what to do in case of an emergency.

Make the holiday season fun and safe for everyone. Visit our website for additional holiday safety tips.

For more information, please contact MDFR’s Media and Public Relations Bureau at (305) 814-8051.


 

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FIRE RESCUE
9300 N.W. 41str Street Miami, Florida 33178
(786) 331-5000