SEYMOUR – The Seymour Fire Department is starting a new tradition to increase the community’s fire safety awareness during the holidays.
A 4-foot wreath with red lights has been hung outside Fire Station 2 and Headquarters at 1019 West Second Street.
The wreath will be lit 24 hours a day. For every structure fire, the department responds to between now and New Year’s Day, a red light will be replaced with a white light as a visual reminder to citizens of holiday fire safety.
During the holiday season, structure fires increase because of increased cooking, use of candles, short circuits in decorative lights, combustible holiday decorations, fires in chimneys, or are caused by home-heating appliances, especially space heaters.
“The idea is to keep the wreath red, and we need the community’s help to do that,” said Fire Chief Brad Lucas. “We encourage everyone to be mindful of fire safety and be careful when decorating for and celebrating the holidays.”
Holiday Fire Safety Tips
• When decorating for the holidays, be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords are not damaged. Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
• For holiday entertaining, test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan, keep children and pets away from lit candles, keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet and stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove-top, ask smokers to smoke outside.
• Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them, and provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding them.
• Before going to bed blow out all lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations.
