Officials provide recommendations for fire safety this Christmas season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As Christmas lights glow and the Yule log may or may not be burning yet, the National Fire Protection Association and other officials have some recommendations to avoid fires from breaking out in your home this holiday season.
For Christmas trees, the NFPA recommends checking your lights before decorating to check for any broken bulbs or frayed wires that could cause a potential fire. They recommend using clips instead of hooks to prevent damage to the cord.
They also say to always turn off all lights before going to bed and leaving the home. If you are using a real tree, ensure it gets plenty of water so it doesn't dry out.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, fire departments nationwide respond to about 200 home fires involving Christmas trees.
Aside from just light decorations, other decorations can also pose a threat to fire. The NFPA reports more than two out of five decoration fires start because they are placed too close to a heat source.
If you are going to be doing some cooking, the association says to not leave hot stoves or ovens unattended and try to keep small children and pets out of the kitchen.
If you do find yourself in a potentially dangerous fire situation, get out of the house immediately, head to a safe location and call 9-1-1 or your local fire department for assistance.
Once the holiday season is officially over, if you have a live tree and want to get rid of it, the Missouri Department of Conservation will take it and use it in lakes and ponds are Central Missouri to help maintain wildlife ecosystems.
