Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The City of Madison Fire Department is once again reminding Madison residents to be especially cautious this holiday season. As a way of reminding everyone about the increased danger of house fires during this time of year, they have hung a wreath at the fire station as part of their holiday decorations. This wreath is special because, for every house fire in Madison County this season, between now and New Year’s Day, a red bulb will be lit. According to Madison Fire Department Chief Bruce Jordan, a total of six red bulbs were on the wreath last season.
Everyone is encouraged to do their part to help “Keep the Wreath Green” by practicing home fire safety during this season. Here are some tips to help accomplish that:
• If you use a live tree, be sure to keep it watered throughout the season. If a tree dries out, the limbs and needles can become very flammable.
• When displaying holiday lights, never overload electric plugs with lighting. Using LED lights can save money and they produce much less heat than the older style bulbs, making them safer.
• Never leave candle flames unattended. Using battery or electric LED candles is a much safer option.
• With families cooking more during the holiday season, people are reminded to never leave the stove unattended. This is especially crucial when frying food.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. This includes furniture, beds, curtains or anything else that can catch fire. Also, be sure to turn space heaters off before you leave the home.
• Be sure to have working smoke alarms on every level of the house. If you don’t have a smoke alarm, you can obtain a smoke alarm, free of charge, at Madison County Fire Rescue or the Madison Fire Department.
• Be sure house numbers are clearly visible from either direction and can be easily seen at night. This will help save valuable time in the event of any emergency at your home.
• Have an escape plan centered around your abilities. If you have a wheelchair or cane, make sure you can access them quickly. Keep glasses and hearing aids next to your bed. Have at least two ways to escape your house in the event of a fire. If you are having friends or family staying with you during the holidays, be sure they also know how to escape in the event of a fire. Be sure to keep escape paths free of obstacles such as an inflatable bed, furniture, etc. Also be sure not to block the driveway in order to allow emergency vehicles access to your house in the event of an emergency.
Both the Madison Fire Department and Madison County Fire Rescue wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season.