Candle fires have damaged many homes in Clark County
The holiday season is here and with the increased usage of seasonal decorations, it is important to focus on candle fire safety. On average, one home candle fire is reported every 34 minutes. In fact, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve are the top four days for home candle fires respectively. In Washington State, there were 133 fires started by candles in 2008 that caused $2.6 million in damages and 63 fires so far this year that have cause $1.5 million in damages.
"Set a good example for young children by using matches, lighters, and fire carefully. If you choose to use candles, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass or ceramic holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down," says State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick.
The Office of State Fire Marshal offers the following candle safety tips and facts:
• Use candles only in rooms where there is a responsible adult awake to control and oversee the flame. Falling asleep is a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the associated deaths.
• Do not use candles in sleeping areas. Almost 40% of home candle fires begin in the bedroom.
• Keep candles away from combustibles. More than half of all candle fires start when something that could burn, such as furniture, Christmas trees, decorations, window blinds, or curtains, is too close to the candle.
• Keep candles up high, out of reach of children. Young children and older adults have the highest death risk from candle fires.
• Never leave burning candles unattended. In 20% of candle fires, the candles are unattended or abandoned.
• Never put lit candles on a Christmas Tree. In December, 13% of home candle fires begin with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.
For more information on candle safety, please visit the Office of State Fire Marshal website at www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/firemars or the United States Fire Administration website at www.usfa.dhs.gov.
Christmas tree safety
"Holiday season decorations can bring happiness and hazards," reminds State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick, "Please follow these safety tips to ensure a fire safe holiday."
Caring for your freshly cut tree:
• Select the freshest-looking tree available. To test for freshness, gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off in your hand. Shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground although some loss of interior brown needles is normal.
• Water the tree. If not setting it up right away, store the tree in water and out of the sun and wind. Make a fresh cut off the bottom of the trunk one half inch from the bottom just before putting in the stand. Don’t add anything to the tree’s water. Keep the tree stand full of water at all times, checking the water level daily. The stand you use should hold at least one quart of water for every inch diameter of the trunk after the tree is in the stand.
Protect your tree from fire hazards (whether your tree is real or artificial):
• Place the tree well away from heat sources, such as space heaters, fire places, wood stoves and televisions. These will speed up evaporation and moisture loss of the tree. When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use tree lights. Larger tree lights should have some type of reflector rather than a bare bulb and all lights should be listed by a testing laboratory. Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
• Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
• Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
• Children are fascinated with Christmas trees. Keep a watchful eye on them when around the tree and do not let them play with the wiring or lights.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.
Wood stove and fireplace tips
As temperatures drop, the threat of home fires rises due to the increased use of alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves. While these alternative methods of heating are certainly acceptable, they are also a major contributing factor in residential fires.
Fire departments in Washington State reported that approximately half of all home heating fires occur during the winter months. Heating equipment was involved in over 1,300 structure fires in 2008, resulting in two fire deaths and nearly $6.9 million in property loss. "Many of these fires can be prevented. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels," says State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick. "By educating themselves about the equipment and following some simple home heating tips, residents can help prevent fires."
Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (3 feet) from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection. Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary.
Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out and unwanted material from going in. Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel.
Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. Allow ashes to cool and dispose of them in a metal container.
SPACE HEATERS
Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections and exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in case it is tipped over.
Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting, burning fuel can produce deadly fumes. Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer.
Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
For more information on home heating safety, visit the Office of State Fire Marshal website at www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/firemars or the United States Fire Administration site at www.usfa.dhs.gov
GENERAL SAFETY TIPS:
ü Residential Fire Sprinklers offer the best protection to ensure escape from fire and you should consider installing them in your home.
ü Install Smoke Alarms on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.
ü Make and Practice a Home Escape Plan. Be sure to have two ways out of every room and decide on a designated meeting place outside. Hold a fire drill and practice your plan annually.
ü Get Out and Stay Out. Go directly to your planned meeting place and stay there. Call the fire department from a neighbor’s home or a cellular phone once safely outside. If you think someone is trapped inside, notify the fire department.
ü Crawl Low in Smoke. If you are trapped in smoke, get down on your hands and knees and crawl to the nearest safe way out. Smoke and toxic fumes rise, cleaner air is near the floor.
ü Stop, Drop, and Roll. If your clothes catch on fire, do not run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, and roll over and over to smother the flames.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington State’s firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.
