Holiday Safety
The Phillipston Fire Department recommends the following safety tips to help ensure a safe and happy holiday season:
- Make sure you have a working smoke detector on every level of your home.
- Choose a freshly cut tree. Live trees need water, check and refill daily.
- Cut a few inches of the trunk before placing in water.
- When your tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.
- Keep your tree away from heat sources, sparks or flames.
- Avoid octopus connections and overloaded connections
- Check and replace worn and or damaged light sets or wires
- Use only U.L. or F.M. approved lights on your tree and no candles!
- Remove all discarded packages and wrappings from the house.
- Never burn wrappings in a fireplace or wood stove.
- Use only non-combustible decorations.
- Do not leave Christmas tree lights on unattended.
- Do not leave burning candles unattended.
- Avoid accidents, use wire or cord to secure your tree to a wall or the ceiling (this will prevent tree from being toppled by children or pets.)
Candle Use (not on holiday trees)
- Use non-tipping candleholders before lighting candles.
- Keep candles away from curtains and other combustible materials.
- Never use candles near windows or exits.
- Do not place candles in any type of tree, real or artificial.
- Extinguish candles when leaving home and when going to bed by wetting the wick.
- Keep wrapping paper away from candles and electric lights.
- Small children should not use matches or lighters, older children can learn to use them only under adult supervision
- Young children should be taught to stay away from candles and electric lights.