Fire Chief Dave Wood asking St.Catharines residents to not let their guards down over the holidays.
Wood says this is a festive time of year and it’s easy to get a little care-free while enjoying the holidays, but the holidays can be a dangerous time of year for house fires because we let our guards down.
He says too often fires are caused by careless cooking or smoking.
Wood says unattended cooking is a leading cause for residential fires in Ontario any time of year.
The fire chief recommends using flameless candles and urges residents to keep traditional candles in sturdy metal, ceramic or glass holders, and away from children, pets and things that can catch fire. Never leave candles unattended.
Residents must keep candles and cigarettes away from Christmas trees and decorations.
Make sure real trees always have enough water so they don’t dry out. If you’re going to smoke, the fire chief suggests smoking outside. He also urges revellers to drink alcohol responsibly.
“This holiday take a few minutes to test your smoke alarms, replace batteries if needed and practice your home escape plan,” said the fire chief. “If you need a carbon monoxide detector, make sure you have one near all sleeping areas.”
Visit www.stcatharines.ca/SafeAtHome for a full list of home fire safety tips.