BY MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
SEBRING — The holiday season is a time when fire departments often experience an increase in accidental fires due to candles, electrical problems, drying live Christmas trees and misuse of space heaters as temperatures begin to plummet.

Mike McCann is the fire inspector with the city of Sebring Fire Rescue.

“Never leave a home with candles burning,” McCann began. “And, never leave a room with a candle burning.”Candles can be especially dangerous around open windows with drapes, or when they are not in a proper container, or in homes with small children or pets that can knock them over, he said.

A lot can happen with a fire in just a few minutes.


“It doesn’t take long,” he said “Anywhere within a matter of two or three minutes, (depending on what’s nearby that can burn) a fire can get beyond a homeowner’s control.”

And don’t leave those indoor Christmas lights on overnight or when you leave the house, either, he said.
Check for dried branches or if needles are falling off. Keep that tree well watered. If the place you buy the tree doesn’t trim a piece of the bottom off before you bring it home, cut a section off your self. This promotes uptake of water into the tree.

Dried Christmas tree fires are very dangerous.

“(Live cut) Christmas trees burn at an unbelievable rate,” he said. “Combustible trees contain dried fuel tars and resins. If you’ve ever seen one burn you might never have one again.”

A dried Douglas fir for example can burn out of control in a matter of 5 to 10 seconds.

Watch a Christmas tree burn.

Under the 2005 uniform fire code, there are provisions for where cut or balled Christmas trees are allowed and not allowed.

Cut trees or combustible vegetation are permitted in buildings without sprinkler systems in only three cases; industrial, one and two family dwellings and storage.

Keep cut trees away from heaters, fireplaces, or other sources of heat or flames.

All others may be permitted to have cut trees with a sprinkler system, or can have balled trees only, or in the cases of hotels, dormitories, board and care, educational facilities, detention or correctional institutions or
places of assembly – no permitted trees at all.

Check with your fire inspector, he suggested.

Check those heaters and use them only as directed, said McCann.

Space heaters must be kept at least three feet from combustible materials.  Newer models are being built safer, he agreed, but safety comes first.

Also in the case of heaters that burn fuel, make sure you are burning the recommended type of fuel and pay attention to proper placement. Read the safety and operating manual that comes with it.

Don’t bring LP gas grills inside as a heat source. They give off deadly – odorless - carbon monoxide gas. Don’t burn charcoal briquettes inside, either.

“This is the time of year when we recommend people get their home heaters – both gas and electric – checked. We get a lot of false alarms because of people turning their heaters on for the first time and they have accumulated dust inside.”

Holiday lights are another source of holiday fire danger.

Each year check those holiday lights, both indoor and outdoor for wear and tear, exposed or cracking wires, or other damage due to rodents, he said.

He wasn’t sure how many years a set can be operated safely, so check them carefully and if in doubt throw them out and get some new ones.

Since many decorations use electricity, Progress Energy offers the following additional precautions to ensure holiday decorations are installed and used safely:

Safety Inside The Home

  • Ensure that artificial trees have been tested and labeled as fire resistant.
  • Check holiday lighting packages to determine the maximum number of strands that may be linked together safely. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
  • Avoid connecting light sets with different numbers of bulbs as they may have different electrical requirements.
  • Don’t place cords underneath rugs, furniture or other appliances. Doing so can cause cords to overheat or become frayed, possibly resulting in a fire. Also, take care when routing cords so that they do not become a tripping hazard.
  • Check all extension cords for fraying, cracks or loose connections. When in doubt, replace old extension cords.
  • Don’t bunch lights too close together, as they can generate excessive heat that can melt insulation and expose live wires.
  • Always turn off decorative lighting when you go to bed or leave the house.

Safety Outside The Home

  • Use only lights that are specifically designed for outdoor use.
  • When installing lights, use caution under overhanging power lines, especially when using a ladder.
  • Never staple or nail through extension cords or holiday lighting wires, as doing so could damage wires and insulation, resulting in electric shock or fire.
  • Always use outdoor-rated extension cords and make sure that the current rating (in amps or “A”) of the device you are plugging in does not exceed the rating on the extension cord. Overloading extension cords can cause overheating of the cord.