Holiday Safety Tips From Livingston Fire Chief: Xmas Trees, Fireplaces, Carbon Monoxide

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of Livingston. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

With the holiday season here, Livingston Fire Chief Chris Mullin reminds residents to be aware of the dangers of the holiday season and how to prevent them.

“The first step to holiday — and every day — safety is to have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers in the home,” stated Chief Mullin. “These detectors provide an early warning to residents that could prove critical in a carbon monoxide or a smoke-related event. Check your detectors every month to make sure they work, and change the batteries twice a year if you have the older models that use batteries.”

Christmas Tree Safety

While festive, Christmas trees can be dangerous if they are not properly taken care of. Consider the following tips to remain safe this holiday season:

• Cut natural Christmas trees at a 45-degree angle at the base and water daily; if on fire, a dry tree can burn very hot and very fast
• Position the tree at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles, or heat vents
• Position the tree so that it does not block exits
• Secure the tree properly in its base
• Keep children from playing around the tree or tugging at branches to limit the risk of the tree falling
• Be mindful of how pets may affect the stability of the tree
• Dispose of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry
• Put the undecorated live tree on your curb near the street between January 5 and January 30 when the township’s Christmas tree recycling program is active

Decoration Safety

Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns
• Make sure candles are in stable holders and in a spot where they cannot be easily knocked down
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell, and feel like real candles
• Inspect holiday lights each year before putting them up
• Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires
• Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect
• Turn off holiday lights before going to bed or leaving the home

Fireplace Safety

During the winter, homes with fireplaces often take advantage of the cold temperatures to use fireplaces. Fireplaces can be dangerous if not used correctly. The following safety tips are recommended:

• Have a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergency
• Open the damper or flue before starting a fire and keep the damper or flue open until the fire is out in order to draw smoke out of the house
• Check the damper by looking up into the chimney with a flashlight or mirror, and never close the damper until the embers have completely stopped burning
• Have the chimney checked annually by a professional
• Check for animal nests or other blockages that could prevent smoke from escaping, even if the chimney is not due for cleaning
• Install safety screens in front of a fireplace to reduce the risk of burns
• Ensure that the area around the fireplace is clear of anything that is potentially flammable
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended — make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house
• Never burn garbage, rolled newspaper, charcoal, plastic, or chemically-treated or painted wood in the fireplace. They all produce noxious fumes that are dangerous and highly polluting.
• Keep small children and pets away from the fireplace
• Use dry and well-aged wood, which burns more evenly and with less smoke — wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney
• Clean out ashes from previous fires — keep levels of ash at the base of the fireplace to 1 inch or less because a thicker layer restricts the air supply to logs, resulting in more smoke

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a lethal, colorless, odorless gas often associated with an improperly vented furnace, hot water heater, or generators powered by gasoline or kerosene.

“Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous because there is no smoke or odor to give residents a warning that something is wrong,” continued Chief Mullin. “That’s why we urge everyone to install detectors, and to change the batteries at least twice a year if they’re battery powered. We recommend usually Daylight Saving Time as a reminder to check all alarms, and inspect fire extinguishers. Industry standards call for carbon monoxide detectors to be replaced every 5 years and smoke detectors to be replaced every 10 years. After a snow storm, we recommend that residents check the vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and/or fireplace to ensure that they’re cleared of piled-up snow that can prevent blockage of this escaping deadly gas. Breathing in large amounts of CO can result in passing out and even death.”

There is also the danger of CO poisoning from warming up a car in an enclosed garage, as the exhaust fumes contain large amounts of CO and this potentially deadly gas can filter into the home through door openings and cracks in the walls.

Additionally, if a homeowner has only one CO detector in the residence, it is important that that detector be located within 10’ of the sleeping area. If more than one detector is present, the additional detector can be located with 10’ of the utility room doors.

“If your alarm goes off, immediately determine if you or any other occupants of the house have any of the symptoms of CO poisoning — including flu-like symptoms such as a headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. If so, get everyone out of the house immediately, move to a well-ventilated area, and call the Fire Department,” said Mullin. “If your alarm activates and you DO NOT experience any on the mentioned symptoms, the alarm may be a result of a faulty detector and you should notify Public Service Utility Company or the Fire Department and request to have your residence checked for CO.”

For more holiday safety information, visit nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/winter-holidays

More information on fireplace safety is available at healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Fireplace-Safety_Tips.aspx

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