Holiday cheer, brightly-lit Christmas trees, fresh-baked goodies and a fire in the hearth to thaw the chill. They’re all a part of the holiday season.

But danger is afoot with each of these holiday elements, at least if you don’t take the appropriate precautions.

Each lit candle could turn into a life-threatening fire; the same goes for a live Christmas tree whose lights are left on too long, or the discarded ashes from the fireplace, according to Capt. Pete Nelms of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Even though some measure of safety is needed during the holidays, a year-round caveat still applies: making sure the smoke detector has fresh batteries and works properly, Nelms said.

“That’s the best way to save lives during a fire, by having a working smoke detector on each level of your home,” Nelms said.

On to the holiday precautions:

Candles, particularly scented ones, provide a certain mood for the holiday. But they present a fire danger when left unattended, as they can melt and spread fire to other items nearby, Nelms said. Candles should also be placed carefully so they are not near other combustible materials, such as window draperies, he added.

One Fayette family found this out the hard way several years ago when a candle lit while they were out of the house led to a fire that severely damaged their home.

A hearty fire in the fireplace can also pose trouble, particularly if the ashes aren’t disposed of properly, Nelms said. Ashes should be placed into a metal box which should then be taken outside and watered thoroughly to insure they can’t re-kindle a fire, Nelms said. Paper bags to transport ashes should be avoided, he added.

Ashes from a fireplace can ignite a fire up to five days after the fire if they are not properly extinguished, Nelms said. He also urges residents who haven’t used their fireplaces in a while to hire a chimney sweep to clean it out, and make sure the flue is open before the fire is lit to insure the smoke can escape the home.

Fresh-cut Christmas trees also pose a danger if their lights are left on too long, Nelms said. The longer since they’ve been cut, the drier they get, so they should never be left lit unattended, he added.

Caution must also be used when plugging in the lights for the home exterior and the tree, as too many lights off the same outlet could overload the electrical circuit and lead to a fire, Nelms said.

Other safety precautions should be used when decking the roof with lights, as someone should be holding the ladder at all times, Nelms said. Falling injuries from similar situations do occur during the holidays, he added.

As kitchens across Fayette will be active during the holidays, Nelms also encourages caution, especially in keeping an eye on small children. Grease fire from cooking activity is a common fire source in homes, he added.

Nelms suggests checking each home’s fire extinguisher and considering replacing it if it is more than a year old.

login to post comments