The most joyous of times can also be deadly. Take the Christmas season. Christmas trees were involved in approximately 160 fires annually between 2015-2019, according to the National Fire Protection Association, typically resulting in more than a dozen deaths, dozens of injuries and more than $10 million in property loss and damage. Short circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause.
As the holidays approach, the Warren County Fire Marshal's Office offers these safety tips in a linked document for choosing and preparing Christmas trees for decoration that will minimize the risk of fire and injuries.
Moreover, the Warren County Fire Marshal's Office offers these reminders to watch out for Common Winter and Holiday Fire Hazards:
WINTER FIRE HAZARDS
• Space Heaters plugged into extension cords, power strips or both.
• Space Heaters with exposed coils.
- Under desks.
- Too close to combustibles paper, plastic furniture etc.
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Plugged into an extension cord or power strip or both.
• Fire Exits Blocked by Snow or Ice.
• Fire Hydrants Blocked by Snow or Ice.
HOLIDAY FIRE HAZARDS
• Live evergreen inside buildings.
• Use of candles, incense or potpourri.
• Hot bulb lighting decorations.
• Excessive lights plugged into extension cords/overloaded extension cords.
OUTSIDE SMOKING HAZARDS
• Unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
Sand/water filled container
• Too close to combustible material, dried vegetation, mulch
If you have any questions or concerns about Holiday Fire Safety or Fire Safety in General you can call the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office @ 908-835-2066 or e-mail: jlake@co.warren.nj.us.
Be fire safe and stay alive!
