News
The holiday season is a time for family, joy, and celebration. However, it also brings unique fire risks that can turn festive moments into dangerous situations. Statistics show that December through February sees the highest number of home fires each year as people rely on portable heaters and adorn their homes with seasonal decorations.
To help residents enjoy a safe and worry-free holiday, Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services shares these essential fire safety tips:
Safe Use of Space Heaters
- Choose heaters with a CSA or ULC approved seal.
- Keep the heater at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from anything that could catch fire or burn such as drapes, clothes, papers, people and pets.
- Always turn off and unplug the space heater when you leave the room or go to bed.
Holiday Decoration Safety
- Place your tree at least one metre away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
- If using a real tree, purchase one with green needles that are hard to pull from branches, and keep it watered.
- Use flame resistant or flame-retardant decorations.
- Blow out lit candles prior to leaving a room or going to bed, and always supervise children around lit candles.
- Only use lights outside that are designed and CSA approved for outdoor use and fully intact strings of lights without loose bulb connectors or broken or frayed wires.
- Use clips to hang holiday lights, as staples may damage electrical cords.
- Unplug lights when not in use or overnight to decrease risk of electrical fires.
Fire-Safe Holiday Cooking
- When cooking, do not leave your stove unattended and monitor nearby children.
- Stay in the kitchen at all times. Keep a close eye on the food, especially if you are frying.
- Keep things that can catch fire, such as towels, packaging, oven mitts and wooden utensils away from the cooking area.
- Never put water on a grease or oil fire. Cover the pot or pan with a lid or baking sheet and turn off the heat. Do not move the pot or pan while it’s hot. It could spill causing burns or a fire.
- If a fire occurs inside the oven, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat.
For more information on holiday safety, visit portcoquitlam.ca/fire or call 604-927-5466.
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