hOLIDAY SAFETY Fire tips

When buying a live tree, check for freshness; make sure the needles are soft and don’t fall off. Keep the tree watered; dry trees can burn in seconds.

Check each string of lights for damaged sockets or wires. Discard bad sets.

For outside, use only light sets and extension cords marked “for outdoor use.”

Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. They can burn extremely fast, throwing off sparks, and can ignite creosote accumulated in the chimney.

Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking. If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

Have a safety zone, and keep children and pets 3 feet away from the stove and oven. Never hold a small child while cooking.

Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.

Keep pot holders, oven mitts, towels and anything else that can burn away from your stove top.

Clean up food and grease from burners and the stove top.

If you must use a turkey fryer, keep the fryer outside in view when it is on and keep it away from buildings and other structures, such as garages, carports and decks. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keep an ABC multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Water and grease are a dangerous combination and could cause hot grease to splatter.

Have a working smoke detector installed on every level of the home and inside each bedroom or sleeping area. Each member of the household should know the home fire escape plan and practice it twice a year. Also, holiday guests should be made aware of the escape plan and the location of any fire extinguishers in case there is an emergency.

Source: Ohio State Fire Marshal