Keep holidays safe with fire prevention tips

By: AGNES DIGGS - Staff writer | Friday, November 19, 2004 10:38 PM PST ∞

With the holiday season, people are gathering by the fireplace and lighting candles. The Escondido Fire Department offers these tips to make your home fire-safe.

  • Fireplaces should be covered by screens to control stray embers. Extra firewood and other flammable items should be kept at least three feet from the fireplace.

  • Never use gasoline, kerosene or other flammable liquids to start a fireplace fire. Do not burn trash or gift wrapping in the fireplace. Such items can release toxic fumes or cause excessive heat that might damage the fireplace.

  • Fireplace embers can smolder for days and sometimes rekindle. Therefore, never place them into a cardboard box or paper bag. Use a metal container with a lid when clearing the ashes.

  • Your chimney should be professionally cleaned at least once a year. Place a spark arrestor on the chimney to prevent sparks from causing a roof fire.

  • Keep in mind that portable heaters should be underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed. They should shut off automatically if tipped over. Make sure the wires are not frayed and the machine is free of dust. Heaters should be plugged directly into the wall. Do not use an extension cord.

  • Keep flammable items at least three feet away from any heater, including bedding, furniture, draperies, and newspapers.

  • Do not use a barbecue or hibachi indoors. The charcoal gives off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide when it burns.

  • Kerosene heaters are illegal in California and should not be used inside the home because they leach oxygen from the air.

    Some city fire departments will do free home inspections, helping homeowners look for fire hazards and plan what to do in case of fire. Escondido Fire Department is one of those. Officials will not try to sell you anything, although they may recommend buying a smoke alarm or other equipment if necessary.

    Escondido Fire Department spokeswoman Carol Rae emphasized that residents must call to schedule an appointment. Call (760) 839-5411.

    Also, senior citizens who need a smoke alarm and cannot afford one can call the Escondido Senior Service Council. The organization will provide one, and a representative of the Fire Department will install it. For information, call (760) 480-0611.

    Rae also stressed the importance of care in handling another holiday favorite.

    "One of the main causes of residential fires is candles," she said. "They have become more popular every year."

    Tips on safely handling the perennial favorite include:

  • Make sure they're secured in nonflammable holders such as metal ceramic or glass.

    "Using anything made of wood or decorated with dried material or fabric is asking for trouble. Candles should never be used without some sort of holder," Rae said. And keep candles away from flammable materials including paper, towels, and silk and dried flower arrangements.

  • Keep in mind that curtains can drift across a candle flame and ignite.

  • And most important, never leave a child unsupervised in a room with a lighted candle.

    "In fact, don't leave any candle unattended ever," Rae said. "If you must leave the room, extinguish them so you can save them for the times you'll be there to enjoy them."

    For information, visit the Web site at www.escondido.org/fire.

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