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Holiday Fire Safety

Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your community's chances of a fire.

Did you know:

Almost one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.

Source: NFPA PDF

Help your fire department increase community awareness about preventing home fires during the holidays with these free fire safety and prevention outreach materials.

Messages to share

Click to copy message.
Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns. Make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily.
Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
Inspect holiday lights each year before you put them up. Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires.
Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
Water your Christmas tree every day. A dry Christmas tree can burn very hot and very fast.
Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree does not block exits.
Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry.

Social media graphics and stock photos

social media card: use safe lighting

Pictographs

Pictographs can help overcome literacy barriers by communicating messages with pictures. Our pictographs will help you to communicate holiday fire safety messages to high-risk populations.

check tree lights cord
lights cord has a tear
throw torn cord away

Handouts


Video

https://youtu.be/ixPiiw81nOY

Encourage your community to be fire-safe during the holidays by sharing the tips in this short video.

https://youtu.be/26A-49Wb2F4

Fire researchers demonstrate what happens when fire touches a dry tree and a properly maintained, well-watered tree.