FIREWORKS SAFETY

Fireworks are for the pros! Watch fireworks at your local community display.

With warm weather and family events, the Fourth of July can be a fun time with great memories. But before your family celebrates this year, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety.

If your child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, don't flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention - your child's eyesight may depend on it. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn (do not use ice). Call your child's doctor immediately.

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you'll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and your holiday will be a blast!

KEEP THE WREATH RED

This holiday season, the Orland Fire Protection District urges everyone to help “Keep The Wreath Red” from the day after Thanksgiving until January 2nd.

 The Orland Fire Protection District places a wreath, which is illuminated with red bulbs, in front of each OFPD fire station.  If a fire occurs during the Holiday Season, where holiday decorations are determined to be involved, one of the red bulbs will be changed to a white bulb.  This will serve as a reminder to take extra safety precautions during the holidays.

 The Orland Fire Protection District urges the citizens of all communities to take time to help “Keep The Wreath Red,” and eliminate fires by providing a fire safe environment at home and work.

HOLIDAY SAFETY

Carefully decorating Christmas trees can help make your holidays safer. 

Facts & figures

● Christmas trees were the items first ignited in an estimated average of 310 reported U.S home structure fires per year in 1999-2002.  These fires caused an average of 14 civilian deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and $16.2 million in direct property damage per year. These statistics include both real and artificial trees.
 

● On average, one in every 22 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death.
 

● More than four of every ten home Christmas tree fires are caused by an electrical problem or malfunction. One in four (24%) home Christmas tree fires resulted from a heat source placed too close to the tree. Seven percent were started by children playing with fire.
 

● When equipment was involved in the ignition of the fire, lamps, bulbs or lighting (18%), and cords or plugs (13%) were cited more often than any other type of equipment. No equipment was involved in 44% of these fires.
 

● Candles were the heat source in 8% of the home Christmas tree fires per year between 1999 and 2002.
 

● Sixty-one percent of the home Christmas tree fires were reported in December, 22% were reported in January. Not surprisingly, the number of these fires spikes during the week of December 22-28.

Note: These statistics are based on fires that started with Christmas trees and do not include fires starting with other products. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can very quickly become large.

Source: NFPA's One-Stop Data Shop

TREE SAFETY

10 Tips for making your Christmas tree fire-safe 

● When decorating your tree, always use lights listed by a testing laboratory. Some lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Larger tree lights should also have some type of reflector rather than a bare bulb.
 

● Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights. Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used. Connect no more than three strands of push-in bulbs and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
 

● Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
 

● Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and extend their life.
 

● Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and make sure any lit candles in the room are placed well away from tree branches.
 

● Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles. Check for fresh, green needles. And place your tree in a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
 

● If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.
 

● Children are fascinated with Christmas trees. Keep a watchful eye on them when around the tree and do not let them play with the wiring or lights. Store matches and lighters up high, out of reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
 

● Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source, such as fireplaces and radiators. Try to position the tree near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
 

● Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.

NFPA does not test, label or approve any products.

TREES:  Artificial trees (plastic) should bear a listing label.  Some unlabeled plastic trees burn with extreme vigor.  Do not rely on chemical coatings or sprays to make your live evergreen flame resistant.  Follow these safety rules when shopping for a natural tree:

A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree.  To check for freshness, remember, check for color and scent.  Feel the needles; they shouldn’t come off in your hand. A fresh tree is deep green in color and has a strong scent of pine.  The trunk butt of a fresh tree should be sticky with sap.  After you get the tree home, cut a half-inch off the trunk and keep plenty of water in the stand.

Place your Christmas tree in a location away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources.  Be sure that it is out of the traffic pattern and primary evacuation route in case of an emergency.

FIREPLACES:  Your fireplace is a source of warmth and heat.  Before starting your fire, be sure to remove all paper and wood decorations from the immediate area.  BE SURE THE FLUE IS OPEN.  Use a grate to burn materials on, in the fireplace.  Avoid prolonged over-firing.  This may ignite the structure through overheated hearth or fireplace walls where the mortar has become dried and dropped out because of excessive heat.  Never use flammable liquids to light the fire, always keep the fire box area clean of ashes and embers and make sure they are completely cooled before taking the ashes or embers into a storage area.  Avoid burning garbage, dried decorations, wrapping paper, etc., in fireplaces as these burn with a very hot flame and may ignite accumulated creosote or cause damage to the chimney itself.  It is also extremely important to have your chimney cleaned by a certified chimney sweep.

CANDLES:  The use of candles during the Holiday Season has increased drastically over the years.  When using candles, always make sure that the candles are not close to combustible materials, such as curtains and other decorations.  Make sure all of the candles are snuffed out before retiring or leaving your house.

LIGHTS:  Christmas tree lights and other decorations set the theme for the Holidays.  Here are some important points to remember when using them.  Use only lights that have been tested for safety.  Identify these by a label from a listing agency, such as UL.  Check the labels on lights to be used outdoors to see that they are suitable for outdoor use.  Never use indoor lights outside.  Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, walls or other firm support to protect them from wind damage.  Never use more than the listed amount of light sets per extension cord.  Read the manufacturer’ instructions carefully, and do not use more than the number of light sets recommended in one circuit.  Always turn off lights when you retire for the evening or leave your home.  A short circuit in any electrical equipment could cause a fire.  Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.  All lights present the problem of shock and a casualty hazards for curious kids.

PAPER:  The opening of Holiday presents is always special during this time of year.  Take special precautions when disposing of the wrappings.  Always dispose of wrappings immediately after opening.  Place trash in a metal container.  Don’t burn wrappings in the fireplace.  They may ignite suddenly and cause a flash fire.