Holiday Fire Safety

Overview

Learning basic fire prevention facts and taking simple precautions can make all of your holiday celebrations safe and memorable.

Outdoor Cooking Safety

• Keep grills a safe distance from houses and overhangs.
• Use only properly labeled starter fluid, never substitute gasoline or kerosene.
• Never apply a fire starter to a smoldering fire. Instead, add dry kindling and blow gently across the coals.
• Never leave outdoor cooking unattended.

Fireworks

• The best way to stay safe from fireworks is to not use them. Instead, attend a permitted fireworks display put on by professionals.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them, and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.
• Do not use fireworks such as ground spinners, firecrackers, round spinners, Roman candles, bottle rockets, and mortars, which are illegal in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Forest Service, wildfires caused by fireworks can be prosecuted under the forest protection laws of North Carolina, and individuals may be subject to reimbursing the costs for fire suppression.
• Never use fireworks while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Make sure fireworks are always used with adult supervision, and follow the instructions provided with the fireworks.
• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
• Have water nearby for emergencies. Sparks and smoldering embers from fireworks can start fires.
• Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
• Always light fireworks one at a time. Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
• Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone.
• Do not aim fireworks at trees, bushes, or hedges. Do not use fireworks near woods, dry vegetation, or any combustible material.
• Never use fireworks in neighborhood backyards or other crowded areas. Always use fireworks in a large, open, preferably paved, area or near a body of water.
• After fireworks complete their burning: to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device.

Halloween

• Costumes and decorations should only be made of flame-retardant materials. Avoid loose, flammable clothing.
• Each mask, wig, and costume must be easily seen at night.
• Use battery-powered lights for jack-o-lanterns, not candles.
• Keep decorations away from sources of heat, such as exposed bulbs and open flames.

Thanksgiving

• Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven.
• Keep kitchen clutter and loose clothing away from the stove's heat.
• Turn pot handles in, away from a child's reach.
• Use pot holders to prevent burns.
• Never throw water on a grease fire. Instead, cover the burning pan with a lid.
• Keep all appliances in good working order.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep Thanksgiving decorations away from sources of direct heat.

Christmas

• Make sure your Christmas tree is fresh. Shedding needles is a sign of a dry tree.
• Keep your tree fresh by placing it in a stand that holds water.
• Make sure artificial trees are flame-retardant.
• Never smoke around the tree or flammable decorations.
• Place trees away from direct sources of heat.
• Never place a tree so that it blocks an exit.
• Only buy electric lights that are approved by a national testing lab.
• Never decorate metal trees with electric lights.
• Always unplug the lights before going to bed.
• Never run electrical cords through doorways and under rugs.
• Keep candles in sturdy holders and never place them near combustibles, such as curtains.
• Avoid hanging stockings near an open flame.
• Never burn paper in a fireplace. This is a major cause of chimney fires.

New Year

• At a party, check to be sure the exits are clear.
• Never let friends drink excessively. Alcohol affects judgment and coordination.
• Check under furniture and cushions for smoldering cigarettes.