| There's a dark side to Christmas decor, one that kills.
Winter is already the house fire season because of dangers associated with increased heating, but statistics show that house fires during the Christmas season are the deadliest.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, one out of every 18 fires during the Christmas season has a fatality, compared to a year-long average of one death for every 141 house fires.
Problems with Christmas decorations are to blame. Christmas lights, candles and trees all pose a hazard if not properly handled.
"There definitely is an increase in fires as far as the Christmas season goes," said Canton Fire Chief Michael Dalton. "Please watch out for candles near the tree or even in general. Candles cause a significant number of fires every year."
Holiday decorations were involved in an estimated 150 house fires per year from 2005 to 2009. They caused an average of eight deaths and 14 injuries each year.
There are simple rules that home owners can follow for keeping decorations, lights and trees as safe as possible.
"It is important to follow basic safety steps so celebrations go off without a hitch," said Lorraine Carli, a representative of the National Fire Protection Association.
Choose decorations that are fire resistant, and keep candles away. Use independently tested lights and check the packaging to see whether they are indoor or outdoor. Do not hang lights that have cracked cords or loose bulb connections, and never connect more than three strands.
Much like flowers in a vase, it is important to keep Christmas trees well watered.
"We really like to caution people that if they have a natural Christmas tree, they need to keep water in it," Dalton said. "It's also very important to vacuum or sweep up any needles that have dropped."
Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and always turn off tree lights before leaving or going to sleep.
"All it takes is following some simple rules," Dalton said. "If I could emphasize anything, don't overload the extension cords."
The following video shows how fast a Christmas tree fire can turn into a house fire.
Please be careful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lPyrJbKJpIY |
