Fire Prevention Tips During the Halloween Season
One I learned in kindergarten:
Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat, if you don’t, I
don’t care, I’ll pull down your underwear! My gosh, now-a-days if a kid said
that harmless old phrase, it would probably make national news. Well, maybe not
national news, but a walk to the principal’s office.
Halloween was always my favorite
holiday. I loved the fact that one day a year, I was able to dress/pretend that
I was Ariel or during my ‘I want to do what my older brother is doing,’ a Power
Ranger. The excessive candy wasn’t bad
either, until it was ruined by the media scaring parents with news that people
were putting razor blades in the candy.
What is wrong with this world?
Unfortunately, the tragedies do
not end there; Halloween is also known for increasing number of house fires.
Halloween fire facts - According
to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- · From
2013-2017, an average of 780 home structure fires began with decorations per
year. More than two of every five (44%) of these fires occurred because the
decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment.
- · More
than one-third (37%) of these fires were started by candles.
- · One-fifth
(21%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen; 16% began in the living
room.
To help you enjoy a
safer holiday, follow these important Halloween safety tips from the experts at
Savage Restoration.
PUMPKIN SAFETY
One tradition I loved as a child was creating the perfect jack-o-lantern.
I don’t know if it was more the creation or squishing the gooey pumpkin seeds
with my hands that I loved best. Once my ‘work-of-art’, which was sloppy at
best was complete, we would illuminate the front porch with a burning candle.
Not Okay! Placing candles inside a cleaned-out pumpkin
is a fire hazard. In fact, any lit candle left unattended is a Halloween fire
hazard. If they’re inside pumpkins, they can tip over, ignite surrounding
materials and cause a fire. To stay safe, use a battery-operated candle or LED
light to illuminate your festive pumpkins.
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DECORATIONS
Some of you fortunate people can have hay bales and corn stalks
in or around your home. I leave that
story for another blog. These items can
be very dangerous if left near any heat source.
Hay bales and corns stalks are very dry materials and will ignite faster
than most other materials. To protect
your home from a fire, keep these decorations away from any kind of heat
source, including fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles and outdoor fire
pits.
By following these tips, you can help keep everyone safe. We
hope you have a happy and fun Halloween this year!
