Safety and Education

12 Days of Holiday Safety

Check out these 12 high priority safety and fire prevention reminders from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs to help you prepare for a safe and festive holiday season:

1. Water fresh cut trees daily. It's time to trim that Christmas tree, and if you’re using a real tree, buy a fresh tree and keep the base of the trunk in water at all times. Keep your tree away from any ignition source such as the fireplace, heaters or candles.
2. Use the proper lights; checked for frayed or damaged cords. Before you put those lights on the tree or around the front window check the cords closely. Discard any sets that are frayed or damaged.
3. Have working smoke alarms. With family and friends spending extra time at your home over the holidays, it’s a great time to check your smoke alarms. Replace smoke alarms if they are over 10 years old. Remember that you need working smoke alarms on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Test your alarms to make sure they will alert you and your family if a fire occurs, giving you the precious seconds you need to safely escape
4. Have working Carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless gas that can quickly kill you. Replace any carbon monoxide alarms over seven years old. Installing carbon monoxide alarms in your home will alert you to the presence of this deadly gas.
5. Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in your home. Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with all members of the household and make sure someone helps young children, older adults or anyone else that may need assistance to evacuate. Once outside, stay outside and call 911 from a cell phone or neighbour's house.
6. Extension cords are for temporary use; overload outlets can overheat and start a fire. People often use extension cords for that extra set of lights or the dancing Santa in the corner. Extension cords should be used only as a temporary connection. Make sure cords never go under rugs as this can cause damage to the cord and cause a fire.
7. Keep decorations 1 metre away from space heaters or other heating sources. If you are using space heaters to help take the chill off, remember to keep them at least one metre (3 feet) away from anything that can burn such as curtains, upholstery, or holiday decorations.
8. Let’s go flameless – use battery operated candles. Candles can set the perfect mood for a holiday celebration, but remember to always blow out candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Keep lit candles safely away from children and pets and anything that can burn, such as curtains, upholstery, or holiday decorations.  Be candle safe! 
9. Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. People often keep matches and lighters handy to light holiday candles. But matches and lighters can be deadly in the hands of children. If you smoke, have only one lighter or book of matches and keep them with you at all times.
10. Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop. The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, which means it's easy to get distracted from what we are doing. Cooking fires most commonly occur when cooking is left unattended. Always stay in the kitchen when cooking; especially if using oil or high temperatures. If a pot catches fire, carefully slide a tight-fitting lid over the pot to smother the flames and then turn off the heat.
11. If you smoke, smoke outside. Careless smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires. If you do allow smoking indoors use large, deep ashtrays that can't be knocked over and make sure cigarette butts are properly extinguished.
12. Don’t cook while under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. With all the festive cheer this time of year, keep a close eye on anyone attempting to cook or smoke while under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is all too often a common factor in many fatal fires.

Fire Prevention & Holiday Safety Resources

• Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, Cooking Safety
• Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, Winter Fire Safety Tips