In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it may be tempting to take a few short cuts. Fire Chief Scott Goldstein asks that you make sure that safety isn’t one of them!

Holiday lights. Indoors or out, only use lights that have been tested by an approved testing laboratory for safety such as UL. All lights should be inspected for frayed wires, bare spots, broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear before plugging them in and discard any damaged sets of lights. Avoid stringing more than three light
strands together.
Firing up the fireplace? Cool your ashes! Every year “cold” ashes result in house fires. Treat all ashes and coals as HOT ashes, even when you think they have had enough time to cool. Your garage, house or deck are unsafe locations for ashes to cool and have been the site of many recent and devastating fires both locally and nationally. Take extreme care when disposing ashes and follow these tips:
Firing up the fireplace? Cool your ashes! Every year “cold” ashes result in house fires. Treat all ashes and coals as HOT ashes, even when you think they have had enough time to cool. Your garage, house or deck are unsafe locations for ashes to cool and have been the site of many recent and devastating fires both locally and nationally. Take extreme care when disposing ashes and follow these tips:
-
Allow all ashes to cool in place for
several days, when possible.
- When it’s time to dispose of ashes,
transfer them to a metal container and wet them down. Only use an approved
metal ash bucket that has a tight fitting metal lid.
- Store the container outside, away from
structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials.
-
Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up
ashes and don’t dispose of ashes outside on a windy day. The wind can whip up what
may have seemed like cool embers, making them fiery hot, and igniting nearby
combustibles.

Candle fires peak during the holiday season. Most holiday candle fires occur when people leave burning candles unattended or place candles too close to holiday decorations. Keep candles in sight, in a secure holder and on a safe surface away from children and pets. Consider using flameless, battery-operated candles making them much safer.
Give space heaters space and ensure at least a 3-foot clearance from anything
that can burn. Do not overload the electrical circuit or use extension cords
with space heaters. Always stay in the room while a space heater is operating
and turn it off when leaving the room or going to sleep. Follow all
manufacturer recommendations and make sure your space heater meets all safety
standards.
Disposing of your tree – never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by having the County’s recycling service pick it up on the designated day(s).