Apartment Fire Safety December 2021

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 12/15/2021 07:25 AM PST
City of Seattle Fire Department

December 2021 Apartment Fire Safety

Candle and incense fire safety

candle

Candles and incense are especially popular during the winter holidays. As a result, candle fire incidents greatly increase during the months of December, January, and February.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than half (56 percent) of home candle fires occur when something that can catch on fire is too close to the candle.

Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.

If you use real candles:

  • Extinguish all candles and incense when leaving a room or before going to sleep.
  • Keep burning candles and incense away from items that can catch on fire such as furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, etc.
  • Candle holders should be heat resistant, sturdy and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax and won’t tip over easily.
  • Put incense and candles on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and where they won’t be knocked over.
  • Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.

Candle Fire Safety Handout from the National Fire Protection Association

Watch and share this video:

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For more holiday safety tips watch this video

Sticker notifications on apartment doors

Occasionally, we are asked if it's advised to put immobile notification stickers on the apartment doors of residents who are unable to use the stairs during a fire emergency. The short answer is "no". When responding to a fire emergency in a multi-residential building, firefighters follow a set of procedures which does not include searching for stickers on doors.

A better approach is to keep an updated list of residents who are not able to use the stairs in or near the fire alarm panel where arriving fire crews can access that information easily. Firefighters will still knock on doors to check on residents and move them to a safe area if needed.

In-person or virtual apartment fire safety presentations

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The Seattle Fire Department is doing virtual and in-person apartment fire safety presentations to residents and staff members. Topics covered include:

  • How to respond safety to a building fire alarm or a fire inside an apartment
  • Most common fire hazards and how to prevent them
  • Your building-specific concerns

For more information, email William Mace.