Albany Fire Department urges residents to be fire safe for the holidays

ALBANY – The holidays are the time for love and cheer and warmth. But Albany Fire Department officials urge residents not to let things get too hot and to practice awareness while participating in holiday activities to reduce the risk of a house fire.

With area residents breaking out space heaters and lighting up fireplaces with the cold weather, they should also be mindful of making sure those devices are safe and in good repair.

“One in six fires is started by electrical fires,” Albany Assistant Fire Chief Marcus Glass said. “It does go up in the months of December, January and February, where we’re getting the biggest cause of fire being electrical.”

Glass urged residents to check the wiring of portable space heaters. In a hot climate like south Georgia’s, those heaters likely have been in storage for months and during that time the wires could have been damaged by being crammed into a box, or rodents could have gnawed on them.

The heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from any flammable materials and should never be used with extension cords.

Fireplaces also should be kept clean as they are also a common cause of house fires to which firefighters respond.

“You also need to check your carbon monoxide alarms,” Glass said. “That definitely kills people. Get the chimney cleaned, and don’t just do it yourself. Get a professional.”

Trees and decorations also can pose risks, and residents should also take precaution in how they are used, Glass said. Decorations should be flame-resistant or flame-retardant, he said, and live trees should be green and kept watered.

Trees also should not be placed in locations where they block an exit of a residence. When it comes to outdoor lights, residents should not use nails but use clips instead to reduce the risk of an electrical arc inside the wiring, Glass said.

“U.S. fire deaths average 835 structure fires per year that began with decorations,” he said. “Those fires have an annual average of three civilian fire deaths, 30 civilian fire injuries and $14 million in property damage.”

Light strings that have cord damage or loose bulb connections should be discarded.

Holiday gatherings mean lots of cooking, so kitchen safety is also important. Food should never be left unattended, even for a short time, Glass said. And with the holiday spirit meaning that holiday spirits are being poured, he recommended never cooking while intoxicated. In many instances a person turns on the stove or oven and disaster ensues.

“You put on some French fries and go to sleep,” Glass said. “A lot of fires start that way.”

It is a fairly common practice, but stoves should never be used as the source of heat. Stoves are not meant to operate for long periods of time with the doors open, and the radiant heat can start a fire while the residents are back in a bedroom.

“If you have a small grease fire in the kitchen and you decide to fight it, smother the flames by sliding a pan or lid over it and turning off the burner,” Glass said. “If it’s a fire in the oven, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Close the door, and it will go out. If the fire is too big, close the door and leave the kitchen.”

On the topic of doors, the assistant chief recommended keeping bedroom doors closed while sleeping. If a fire starts in another room, that door can block the flames for precious minutes and will also prevent smoke, the biggest killer in house fires, from entering the room.

“Everybody needs to know that,” he said. “If that door is closed, you have time.”

Outdoors, revelers may have bonfires burning or light fireworks, and caution also should be taken for those activities. Participants should keep the fire and fireworks away from structures and have a water source handy.

“At this time of year, we’ve got to be mindful that we’re changing the way we’re operating inside and outside of the home,” Glass said. “Celebrations are a hallmark of the holiday season, but they also present fire risks that can quickly turn this festive time of year into a devastating one.”

The Albany Fire Department provides smoke detectors to residents free of charge. Glass recommended that homes should have multiple detectors to keep residents safe.

To request smoke detectors, call (229) 302-1902.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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