Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,000 individuals and cause over $500 million in damage.

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple, life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following these tips, you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

Selecting a tree:
Needles on a fresh tree should be green and hard to pull back from the branches. The needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Bouncing the tree trunk hard on the ground can identify old trees. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut for too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Caring for your tree:
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. Heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame, or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Disposing of your tree:
Never put tree branches or needles on a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by having it hauled away by the your trash pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

Maintain your holiday lights:
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, or gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.

Do not overload electrical outlets:
Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires (they should not be warm to the touch).

DO NOT LEAVE HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON UNATTENDED

Holiday Decorations

Use only nonflammable decorations:
All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace:
Wrapping paper can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

Artificial holiday trees:
If you are using an artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Use Care with Candles

Candles can be dangerous:
If you use candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

Never put candles on a tree:
Do not go near a holiday tree with open flame-candles, lighters, or matches.

General Home Fire Safety

Always have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly, and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. Remember to practice your home fire escape plan.

Contact Numbers

Emergency 911
Fire (non-emergency) (661)259-2111
Sheriff/City of Santa Clarita (661)255-1121
Emergency Preparedness (661)286-4093

For more information please contact Donna Nuzzi, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, at (661) 286-4093 or via email at dnuzzi@santa-clarita.com