The twelve days of Christmas safety
On the 1st day of Christmas
Ensure your Christmas lights conform to CSA or ULC Standards. If using exterior lights, ensure they are plugged into a GFI protected outlet.
On the 2nd day of Christmas
Never place candles near Christmas trees, furnishings, or other combustibles.
Candle with Care!
Make use of LED type battery operated candles, they are much safer.
On the 3rd day of Christmas
Make sure your family and any visitors staying for the holidays know what to do in an emergency. Make a fire escape plan.
On the 4th day of Christmas
Decorations can burn very easily. Don’t attach them to lights or heaters.
On the 5th day of Christmas
Never overload electrical outlets. Take advantage of lower wattage, cooler LED style lights. Always turn off lights before going to bed and unplug cords.
On the 6th day of Christmas
Celebrate Christmas and New Year safely. The risk of accidents, especially in the kitchen, is greater after alcohol is consumed.
On the 7th day of Christmas
Most residential fires start in the kitchen. Never leave cooking unattended.
On the 8th day of Christmas
If you are planning to celebrate with fireworks, ensure you have a safe product and follow all safety regulations.
On the 9th day of Christmas
Make sure any smoking materials are completely extinguished before going to bed.
On the 10th day of Christmas
Test your smoke alarm once a month.
On the 11th day of Christmas
Keep candles, matches and lighters out of reach of children. Never leave burning candles unattended. When you go out — blow out.
On the 12th day of Christmas
Take time to check on elderly relatives and neighbors this holiday season. Make sure they are fire safe.
Bigfork Fire Department responded to 60 incidents for the month of November:
• One cooking fire, confined to container
• One road freight or transport vehicle fire
• One emergency medical service incident
• 50 EMS calls, excluding vehicle accident with injury
• One vehicle accident with injuries
• Two motor vehicle accidents with no injuries
• One overheated motor
• One power line down
• Two authorized controlled burnings
Happy Holidays from the Bigfork Fire Department!
Wayne Loeffler,
Bigfork Fire Department
Chief