Tips for being fire-safe over the holidays

The holidays are a time of twinkling lights, crackling fireplaces, evergreen trees, and lit candles, bringing warmth in the cold.

But it can also be a dangerous time if you’re not careful.

The Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario says November, December, and January see spikes in fire-related deaths. Common culprits include electrical devices, candles, and Christmas trees.

Leanne Labbee with Ottawa Fire Services joined CTV Your Morning Ottawa on Tuesday to discuss fire safety over the holidays.

Electric lights

A lot of things get plugged in over the holidays, and Labbee says it’s important to make sure your cords and plugs are in good working order.

“So, checking to make sure there’s no frays, no breaks, no loose connections, but also that they’re also certified by a standard company,” she says. “CSA, ULC or ETL are the different markings that you’d be looking for to ensure that they’re properly tested and rated for use in Canada.”

Before stringing up the lights, give them a once over.

“I know a lot of times we take them, we tangle them up, we throw them in a bin,” Labbee says. “So, always check them, make sure there’s no frays, no breaks, or anything like that in them because electrical fires happen very quickly and a lot of the times we don’t see them before it’s too late.”

Labbee also says to unplug your lights or turn them off before going to bed, and make sure you don’t overload your sockets.

Christmas trees

Christmas trees are standing tall in living rooms across the world and keeping them watered is important.

“I know we like to have real trees. Real trees are beautiful, they smell great, are wonderful, but we really need to be cautious with them because they’ll actually consume up to four litres of water a day,” says Labbee.

Make sure you have a study, deep tree stand that can hold enough water, and remember to regularly fill it up to keep the tree hydrated, Labbee says.

“If, all of a sudden, you see a ton of needles falling off, and they’re really dry, that’s an indication immediately that your tree is not getting enough water and you need to be cautious with it,” she says.

Candles

Candles are beautiful and can smell great, but they are open flames, which require care, says Labbee.

“Make sure they’re in a really nice, sturdy base and can’t be knocked over. If you’re leaving the room, blow them out. Relight it when you come back in,” she says.

Another option is considering battery-operated candles.

“[They] can go in different colours and they’re safer, they don’t get hot, and if you forget to turn it off, they’re not as dangerous as having a lit candle,” she says.

Family and visitors

Family and friends often visit over the holidays, sometimes for an extended time. Labbee says you should inform visitors about your family’s fire escape plan, just in case.

“Make sure that they know where your meeting place is so that if something does happen, you make sure it’s only stuff that gets lost and we’re not having the fatalities that we’ve had in previous years,” she says.

And, a reminder, Ontario’s Fire Code requires that homes have a working smoke alarm on each floor and outside each sleeping area. Carbon monoxide alarms are also required outside sleeping areas if the home has an attached garage, a wood stove or a fuel-fired appliance.