[[Minneapolis Fire Department]] [[PREVENT HOLIDAY FIRES]]

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Minneapolis Fire Department

Winter holidays bring an increase in home fires started by cooking and candles. But, like most home fires, even these "more common" fires can be prevented by simply applying safer habits at home. Because really, cooking, candles, and other sources of fire are not the real cause .. PEOPLE are!  Here are some tips to prevent fire emergencies over the upcoming holidays:

CANDLES

According to the NPFA*, the top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Christmas Eve.  "Roughly one-third (35%) of home candle fires started in bedrooms", and "more than half (56%) of the home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was too close to the candle."

1. Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.

2. Blow candles out before you leave the room and before you go to sleep.

3. Never allow children to play with candles or to keep candles in their bedrooms.

4. Consider using flameless candles.

COOKING

Like candles, the top days for cooking fires include Christmas and New Year's!  Please be careful in the kitchen this holiday, and everyday, by taking these simple precautions:

1.  LOOK when you COOK!  If you're cooking on the stovetop, stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on what's cooking.  If you have to leave - even for a second - turn the burner off.  So many fires start because someone walked away from the stove, got distracted, and "forgot they had something cooking".

2.  Keep towels, newspapers, mail, backpacks, and other "stuff" that can collect on the kitchen counters away from your cooking area.  Clean up spills around your burners and off the bottom of the oven that might catch on fire or produce a lot of smoke if they burn.

3.  If you have a stovetop fire, follow these steps if it's safe to do so:  TURN OFF THE BURNER and COVER THE PAN WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID.  NEVER put water on a pan fire, and NEVER pick up the pan and move it to the sink or anywhere else.  If you are unable to safely put out a kitchen fire, get everyone out safely and call 911!

4.  Keep children at least 3 big steps away from the stove - curious kiddos can pull down pots and pans and get burned!

5.  SET A TIMER!  If you're baking, slow roasting, or cooking things that take time - a timer will alert you when it's done. 

A FEW MORE TIPS:

Almost 70% of fire fatalities occur in homes with no working smoke alarms!  Make sure you have WORKING SMOKE ALARMS at home!  At least one on every level of your home, and ideally one inside each bedroom.  Test them monthly, and change the battery at least once per year. 

Have a Carbon Monoxide Alarm within 10 feet of every bedroom!

Make sure holiday lights and other electrical cords are in good working condition - replace or repair those that are damaged.  Don't overload outlets!  Use a surge protector/power strip instead.  If an outlet feels warm to the touch, or is sparking, call a qualified electrician.

For more information, go to:

www.minneapolismn.gov/fire

www.nfpa.org 

 

Have a Safe and Happy December!

 

Casidy Anderson / Community Risk Reduction Officer

Minneapolis Fire Department

casidy.anderson@minneapolismn.gov