Fire Safety at Christmas Time Fire Safety At Christmas Time The Huron Shores Fire Department wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. Here are some tips to help make sure your home is fire safe over the Christmas Season: 1. When using candles, make sure they are well away from flammable materials such as Christmas trees, table cloths, curtains etc., but most importantly, NEVER walk away from a lit candle. Blow it out first. 2. When putting up Christmas lights, keep the bulbs clear of flammable materials, and use a timer or unplug them when you go to bed or leave your home. 3. If you are using a real Christmas tree, before putting it in the base, make sure to cut a slice off the end of the trunk (about one inch thick) so that you are putting a “fresh cut” in the base. After cutting this slice off, mount the tree and fill the water reservoir with fresh water as soon as possible. It’s best to do this all within one hour or less. This will ensure your tree can take water in and stay fresher longer. 4. Water your tree every day. Give it as much water as it will absorb to prevent it from drying out. A dry tree can catch fire very quickly when exposed to a tree light or other heat source. 5. Use alcohol responsibly. Avoid smoking indoors or cooking while consuming alcohol. Careless cooking causes numerous fires every day in Ontario. 6. Never leave young children unattended. In addition, make sure all flames and flame sources are kept out of their reach. 7. Make sure your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms are properly maintained, have fresh batteries, and are tested monthly. Please click here to view a dramatic new video from the Ontario Fire Marshal showing the right and the wrong way to equip your home for the holidays. In addition, go to www.safeathome.ca for more tips to keep your family safe over the holidays and throughout the year. G.J. (Gib) Medve, Fire Chief Huron Shores Fire Department