MARTENSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT - CHRISTMAS SAFETY

 

 
 


 


  
ARTIFICIAL TREES 
  
SOME PLASTIC TREES ARE FLAMMABLE, SOME ARE FIREPROOF, CHECK MANUFACTURER'S 
  TAG TO MAKE CERTAIN 
  
 
  
METALLIC TREES 



  
ARE CONDUCTORS OF ELECTRICITY; DO NOT DECORATE WITH STRING LIGHTS, BUT 
  ILLUMINATE WITH FLOOD LIGHTS 


REAL TREES 

    
  
  1. FRESH NOT DRIED OUT - TEST TWIGS AND NEEDLES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT 
  BRITTLE. A TREE WITH 75% MOISTURE CONTENT CANNOT BE LIT WITH A MATCH 
  
  2. STORE TREES OUTDOORS - UPRIGHT - WITH BUTT ON THE GROUND IN A SHELTERED 
  LOCATION - THE HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT WILL BE RETAINED. 
  
  3. MAKE A FRESH ANGULAR CUT TO ENCOURAGE WATER UPTAKE - PLACE IN STAND THAT 
  HOLDS 1 LITRE OR MORE 
  
  4. KEEP THE WATER TOPPED UP DAILY 


LOCATION
AVOID DRYING HEAT DUCTS, VENTILATORS, FANS, AND WINDOWS 
EXPOSED DIRECTLY TO THE SUN; EVEN WITH THE BEST OF CARE, TREES IN WARM BUILDINGS 
LAST 14 DAYS TOPS 


PLACEMENT
DON'T BLOCK EXITS, DON'T PLACE AN EVERGREEN NEAR A 
FIREPLACE OR HOT AIR RETURN. DON'T SMOKE NEAR A LIVE TREE. DON'T PLACE NEAR 
DRAPES. 


LIGHTING 

    
  
  1. NEVER DECORATE A TREE WITH CANDLES 
  
  2. DON'T LET LIGHT BULBS TOUCH THE TREE 
  
  3. USE ONLY CSA APPROVED LIGHTING SETS AND NON-FLAMMABLE DECORATIONS 
  
  4. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE OUTDOOR BULBS ON A TREE INDOORS 
  
  5. UNPLUG THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AND BEFORE YOU GO TO BED. 



OUTDOORS 

    
  
  1. MAKE SURE YOU USE CSA APPROVED OUTDOOR BULBS, ONLY 
  
  2. DO NOT USE NAILS, TACKS OR BRADS TO HANG LITES (INSULATED STAPLES, OR 
  HOOKS) 
  
  3. WHEN REPLACING BULBS, TURN POWER OFF 
  
  4. ON OUTDOOR DISPLAYS, SOCKETS MUST BE HUNG WITH THE BULB POINTING DOWNWARD 
  
  5. NEVER USE FRAYED OR TAPED LIGHTING SETS (SHORT OUT CAUSING SHOCK AND FIRE) 

  
  6. DON'T OVERLOAD CIRCUITS. 
  
  7. DON'T USE FRAYED OR DAMAGED EXTENSION CORDS. 


SMOKE ALARMS


    
  
  1. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SMOKE ALARMS ARE WORKING. ACTIVATE THE TEST BUTTON 
  ONCE EACH WEEK. INTRODUCE SMOKE INTO THE SMOKE ALARM ONCE EACH MONTH. 
  
  2. REPLACE THE BATTERY AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR. PICK A DATE, SUCH AS THE DATE 
  YOU TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK IN THE FALL, TO CHANGE BATTERIES. THIS WILL ACT AS A 
  REMINDER TO YOU. PUT A PIECE OF TAPE WITH THE DATE THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED ON 
  THE SMOKE DETECTOR AS ANOTHER REMINDER. 
  
  3. MAKE A FAMILY ESCAPE PLAN. DISCUSS IT WITH ALL FAMILY MEMBERS. PRACTICE 
  THE ESCAPE PLAN UNTIL EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO. IF YOU WAIT FOR A FIRE TO 
  OCCUR, IT IS TOO LATE! 
  
  4. WHEN YOU HAVE A FIRE EMERGENCY, DIAL 
  911 (OR YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER), STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND THE NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY. 
  
  5. REMEMBER TO GET OUT AND STAY OUT.  IF THE FIRE IS LARGER THAN A 
  BASKETBALL, CALL FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM A NEIGHBOURS HOUSE. 


FIREPLACES AND WOODSTOVES 

    
  
  1. DON'T BURN WRAPPING PAPER IN YOUR FIREPLACE OR WOODSTOVE. 
  
  2. MAKE SURE THAT A SCREEN OR OTHER PROTECTION IS IN PLACE TO PREVENT HOT 
  EMBERS FROM FALLING ON FLOORS, FURNITURE OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLES. 
  
  3. YOUR CHIMNEY SHOULD BE CLEANED AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR. IF YOU USE THE 
  FIREPLACE OR WOODSTOVE FREQUENTLY, ADDITIONAL CHIMNEY CLEANINGS MAY BE 
  REQUIRED. 
  
  4. MAKE SURE THAT YOU RUN THE FIREPLACE OR WOODSTOVE, WITH THE DAMPER WIDE 
  OPEN, FOR AT LEAST ONE HALF HOUR AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH FIRE. THIS WILL 
  REDUCE THE BUILD-UP OF CREOSOTE, A MAJOR CAUSE OF CHIMNEY FIRES. 
  
  5. DISPOSE OF ASHES IN A NONCOMBUSTIBLE CONTAINER, WITH A LID. NEVER PUT 
  ASHES IN A GARBAGE CONTAINER, CARDBOARD BOX OR BAG. 




 


IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING FIRE SAFETY, PLEASE 
DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE MARTENSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT



  

  

  
306-934-5822