Winter Holiday Safety

Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together, but that also means a greater risk for fire.  The Wauconda Fire District wants you to follow a few simple tips that will help ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season:

Holiday Decorating

• Be careful with holiday decorations.  Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other combustibles.
• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of LED light strands to connect.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
• Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

Holiday Entertaining

• Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove top.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside.  Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
• Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.
• Be sure to remember to blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed.  Also, turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

If you have any questions, please contact the Wauconda Fire District at 847-526-2821.