Crime & Safety

Avoid Home Fires This Holiday, RBFD Says

Follow these tips from the Redondo Beach Fire Department to avoid fires in the home this holiday season.

Along with holiday festivities' family fun, there are also more opportunities for home fires, according a news release from the Redondo Beach Fire Department.

Cooking, Christmas trees, candles and holiday decorations can all contribute to the seasonal causes of home fires, according to RBFD Division Chief and Fire Marshal Mark Winter.

"As everyone gets busier during the holidays, we often become rushed, distracted or tired," Winter said. "That's when home fires are more likely to occur … By taking some preventative steps and following simple rules of thumb, most home fires can be prevented."

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Unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and fire injuries, so stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food, Winter advised. Keep flammable items away from the stovetop, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it's for a short period of time.

Keep an eye on food that's boiling, simmering, baking or roasting, and create a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and other food preparation areas, Winter said.

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December is the peak month for candle fires in the home. According to statistics from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, nearly half of all home decoration fires are started by candles. People should consider using flameless candles that look and smell like real candles.

Nevertheless, if you do use traditional candles, keep them at least a foot away from flammable items, and extinguish them when you leave the room, according to the RBFD. Use sturdy candle holders on uncluttered surfaces, and don't keep them in the bedroom.

The RBFD also offered the following advice for those who decorate their homes with Christmas trees:

  • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.
  • If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.
  • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.
  • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
  • After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home. Athens Services, Redondo Beach's waste hauler, will pick up Christmas trees for several weeks after the holiday.

Additionally, people are advised to bring outdoor holiday lights inside after the holidays. This will prevent hazards and make the lights last longer, according to the news release.

"The holidays can quickly turn from joyful to tragic when a fire occurs," Winter said. "By taking simple precautions, people can avoid potential fire hazards, and make this time of year a healthy and happy one."


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