Holiday Safety

• Christmas
• Halloween
• Fourth of July

HOLIDAY SAFETY

Remembering these holiday safety tips will ensure you keep the Town of Smyrna's Professional Fire Fighters off your holiday guest list and enjoy a happy holiday season.

• Christmas Tree Fires
• Candle Safety

CHRISTMAS TREE FIRE

Carefully decorating Christmas trees can help make your holidays safer.

Facts & Figures*

In 1998, Christmas trees were the first item ignited in 300 home fires, resulting in 11 injuries and $8 million in direct property damage.
The leading cause of Christmas tree fires and property damage was short circuit or ground fault (21%). In this category, electrical failure other than short circuit ranked second in number of fires, injuries and property damage with the exception of the "other known" category.
Cords and plugs were the leading type of equipment involved in the ignition of Christmas trees.
Unspecified short circuit arc accounted for an average of more than 100 fires (20%), no civilian deaths, 14 civilian injuries, and $3.3 million in direct property damage from 1994-1998.
(*From NFPA's U.S. Home Product Report, Forms and Types of Materials First Ignited)

News Story: Holiday Tree Fire Hazards  (video)

PREVENTING HOLIDAY TREE FIRES

Safety Tips

When decorating Christmas trees, always use safe tree lights. (Some lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.) Larger tree lights should also have some type of reflector rather than a bare bulb and all lights should be listed by a testing laboratory.

Never use electric lights on a metal tree.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights. Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.

Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away from tree branches.

Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.

Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.

When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.

Children are fascinated with Christmas trees. Keep a watchful eye on them when around the tree and do not let them play with the wiring or lights.

Store matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source and try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.

Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.
 

CANDLE SAFETY

Remember that a candle is an open flame. It can easily ignite any combustible nearby.

Facts and Figures*

Candle fires reached a 19-year high of 12,540 in 1998, resulting in 157 deaths, 1,106 civilian injuries and $176.1 million in property damage.
Unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled candles are the leading cause of home candle fires (37%), followed by leaving candles too close to combustibles (19%), according to annual averages from 1994-98. Nine percent were started by children playing with candles.
December is the peak month for candle fires, with nearly twice the average number of incidents.
Almost half (44%) of home candle fires start in the bedroom.
*Source: NFPA's Candle Fires in U.S. Homes and Other Occupancies

Safety Tips:

Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations).

Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.

Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.

Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.

Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.

Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.

Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.

Candles & children:

Keep candles up high out of reach of children.

Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.

Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.

Store candles, matches and lighters up high and out children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

During power outages:

Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. Don't use a lit candle when searching for items in a confined space.

Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.

Halloween Safety Tips

Planning ahead can help make this Halloween a fire-safe one. Taking simple fire safety precautions, like making sure fabrics for costumes and decorative materials are flame-resistant, can prevent fires.

Facts & Figures*

• Decorations for special events accounted for an annual average of 1,000 home fires, most often involving candles, and causing two civilian deaths and $6.8 million in direct property damage per year from 1993-1998.
• More than 100 people die each year as a result of their clothing becoming ignited.

Safety Tips

• Purchase only costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. When creating a costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame. Avoid billowing or long trailing features.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters, etc.
• Use extreme caution when decorating with candles, and supervise children at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside Jack-O-Lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches and be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from all combustible items. Pumpkins can also be illuminated with small, inexpensive flashlights.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, ensuring nothing blocks escape routes.
• Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
• Instruct children to stay away from open flames or other heat sources. Be sure children know how to stop, drop and roll in the event their clothing catches fire. (Stop immediately, drop to the ground, covering your face with your hands, and roll over and over to extinguish flames.)
• Instruct children who are attending parties at others' homes to locate the exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency.
• Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume.

Remembering these simple precautions can make your Halloween safe and memorable.

To Help You Celebrate Safely This Fourth of July, the Smyrna Fire Department, The Consumer Product Safety Commission And The National Council On Fireworks Safety Offer The Following Safety Tips:

• Always read and follow label directions.
• Have an adult present.
• Buy from reliable sellers.
• Use outdoors only.
• Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
• Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
• Light only one firework at a time.
• Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).
• Never give fireworks to small children.
• If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.
• Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
• The shooter should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the firework.
• Stay away from illegal explosives.

The Smyrna Fire Department Offers These Tips on Choosing Safe Fireworks

It is extremely important to know the difference between a legal consumer firework and a dangerous explosive device. Items such as M-80s, M-100s and blockbusters are not fireworks, they are federally banned explosives. They can cause serious injury or even death. Stay away from anything that isn't clearly labeled with the name of the item, the manufacturer's name and instructions for proper use. Here are some more tips to help ensure a safe Fourth of July:

Fireworks are not toys. Fireworks complying with strict regulations enacted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1976 function primarily by burning to produce motion and visible or audible effects. They are burning at approximately the same temperature as a household match and can cause burn injuries and ignite clothing if used improperly.

NEVER give fireworks to young children. Close, adult supervision of all fireworks activities is mandatory. Even sparklers can be unsafe if used improperly.

Select and use only legal devices. If you choose to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, check with your local police department to determine what fireworks can be legally discharged in your area.

Stay away from illegal explosives. Illegal explosive devices continue to cause serious injuries around the Fourth of July holiday. These devices are commonly known as M-80s, M-100s, blockbusters or quarterpounders. Federally banned since 1966, these items will not contain the manufacturer's name and are usually totally unlabeled. Don't purchase or use unlabeled fireworks. If you are aware of anyone selling such devices, contact your local police department.

Homemade fireworks are deadly. Never attempt to make your own devices and do not purchase or use any kits that are advertised for making fireworks. Mixing and loading chemical powders is very dangerous and can kill or seriously injure you. Leave the making of fireworks to the experts.

1. Ordinance for Fireworks in the Town of Smyrna.

Please Have a Safe and...

Fireworks Regulations

Permissible dates and times of discharge.

Town of Smyrna
Ordinance No. 02-35
Title 7
Chapter 5
Section: 7-501

The discharge of common fireworks within the corporate limits of the Town of Smyrna shall be restricted to the following dates and times.

July 03 through July 05 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
December 31 through January 02 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the dates of July 04 and December 31 of each year, the discharge of common fireworks shall be restricted to between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m.

Home