’Tis the season to be jolly, but it’s also the season to be safe, especially where decorative lighting and fireplaces are concerned. The Fort Worth Fire Department offers the following tips to help you safely enjoy the holiday season:
Lights
- Both indoor and outdoor lights should bear the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.
- Make sure lights are safe by checking them for damage as you remove them from storage. Check for such things as exposed wires, loose prongs and cracked or broken sockets. Repair before using, or discard.
- Use indoor lights inside, outdoor lights outside.
- Before decorating with lights, sets should be checked for smoking and melting by placing on a non-flammable surface and plugging in for 10 to 15 minutes. Careful packing and unpacking will avoid damage to lights and wiring.
- Indoor lights should be securely attached to trees. Bulbs should not be in direct contact with needles or branches.
- Outdoor lights should be waterproof and fastened securely to trees or structures to prevent wind damage.
- Avoid overloading extension cords or light strings. There should be no more then three sets of lights on an extension cord. Do not connect large light sets through miniature light sets.
Fireplaces
- Before lighting a fire, make sure the flue is open. Also, remove all debris in the fireplace.
- Do not use the fireplace as an incinerator. Greenery can burn rapidly, throwing off sparks. Burning wrappings and packaging can create a “flash fire” as well as produce toxic fumes in poorly ventilated fireplaces.
- Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start or restart a blaze. Invisible vapors can cause an explosion. Use wood and matches. Remember to keep matches out of reach of children.
- Keep a screen in front of the fireplace while in use to prevent flying sparks from igniting carpet or nearby objects. Do not leave a fire unattended.
- If using artificial logs, follow package instructions carefully. For instance, do not “break open” logs as it will create a large and extremely hot fire. Also, manufacturers of some metal modular fireplaces do not recommend use of artificial logs because of the intense heat produced. Check your particular fireplace for limitations.
- An expert should clean fireplaces once every 200 to 300 burnings to avoid a build-up of creosote, a potentially flammable by-product of combustion. Use of vacuum or chemical cleaners are not a completely effective way of removing the creosote layer. Scraping and brushing are the best methods of removing deposits. Check the Yellow Pages under “Chimney” for professional help.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times.
- Before closing the flue, make sure fire has died completely.
- Be careful in wearing loose, flowing clothing near fireplaces and other open flames.
- Be sure to have a working smoke detector on every level of your home.
