'Keep The Wreath Red' Campaign Promotes Fire Safety In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — It's a new holiday season, which means the Plainfield Fire Protection District will launch its annual "Keep the Wreath Red" fire safety campaign on Dec. 1.

As part of the effort, all four Plainfield fire stations are decorated with a wreath adorned in red string lights. If a fire starts as a result of holiday decorations, the red lights will be replaced with white ones, officials said.

The wreaths and lights, displayed through Jan. 2, are meant to encourage locals to maintain safe practices and keep the wreaths red.

Firefighters provided a list of tips to help:

• Beware of lighted candles. Candles often get forgotten or knocked over by pets or children.
• Beware of space heaters. Space heaters need space. Do not put space heaters near curtains, tablecloths, or other loose fabrics. Plug space heaters directly into an outlet, do not use extension cords. Be sure to turn the space heater off when leaving the area.
• Cover your fireplace with a screen. Tempered glass or a metal screen helps protect sparks from leaving the fireplace.
• Have your chimneys and vents checked. Fireplaces produce creosote which can ignite.
• Have your furnace checked. Have it serviced and inspected yearly for proper operation.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Make sure the batteries are fresh if they have them.
• Keep natural Christmas trees watered; do not rely on chemical sprays to make your tree flame-retardant.
• Do not overload extension cords.
• Unplug holiday lights before leaving home or sleeping.