The Yellowknife Fire Department has shared a handful of fire safety tips in relation to holiday decorations.
As the holidays grow closer, many across the North will be decorating their homes with their favourite seasonal décor. While many decorations can be beautiful and eye-catching, they can introduce new hazards to the home.
Candles can create a very soft and atmospheric glow around the house, but an open flame of any kind immediately becomes a new factor to keep in mind. It is recommended that candles be kept at least twelve inches away from any material that could catch fire if they are knocked over. If regular candles could become a hazard for the home, consider using electronic candles in their place.
Similarly, space heaters can be a very handy tool to help keep warm over the colder months. They should be kept at least one meter away from flammable materials such as curtains, furniture, and holiday decorations.
Christmas trees are one of the most common decorations seen in the home this time of year, and there are different personal preferences on whether or not to use a real or artificial tree. When using a real tree, make sure to keep it fresh. Trees should be watered every day, as dry trees are much more likely to catch fire.
Many holiday decorations often require electricity, and access to a power socket. This in turn usually means that extension cords get brought out of the shed to help keep everything powered. It is recommended to check if any cords are becoming worn down or damaged, and to replace any cords that are deteriorating. Make sure to not have too many cords plugged into a single socket or power bar.
The holidays are also a time when the kitchen becomes a much more active area of the house. If one is preparing a large amount of food, make sure to stay near enough to the kitchen to keep an eye on things.
