Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Legislator Dominick Thorne and local fire service officials simulated two house fires at the Suffolk County Fire Academy to advise residents of potential hazards during the holiday season.
“December has become the number one month for home fires due to Christmas trees and holiday decorations,” said Romaine. “This does not have to be true in Suffolk County, but we must take precautions.”
Remember to take the following precautions:
- It is very important to care for your tree daily and keep it watered
- Buy your tree from a reputable tree seller
- Before putting up your lights and holiday décor, inspect them for frayed wires, cracked sockets, or loose connections.
- Be sure not to overload outlets; stick to one high-wattage appliance per socket to avoid overheating.
- Keep cords out of reach to prevent chewing hazards for household pets.
- Make sure the tree is three feet away from any heat source & does not block any exits or doorways.
Facts:
- Christmas tree fires can spread rapidly
- An entire room can be engulfed/flashed over in just one minute.
Over 21 million real trees will be sold for home use this year. There were over 800 fires caused by holiday decorations between 2018 and 2020 with:
- 38% electrical
- 35% wiring (including cords, plugs, bad lights or circuit overload)
- 20% heating sources
- 7% candles