Use FASNY’s holiday tips to hear sleigh bells ring, not fire alarms
ALBANY, NY – December 8, 2022 – The holiday season is here! Across the state, New Yorkers put up Christmas candles, trees, and lights to decorate their homes. The Firefighter’s Association of New York (FASNY) would like to remind everyone of some safety tips to enjoy a safe holiday season.
“The holidays bring happiness, love and joy to New Yorkers each year,” said Edward Tase, Jr., President of FASNY. Dry trees, unattended cooking, and forgotten candles can lead to tragedy. We want all New Yorkers to be able to enjoy a safe, accident-free vacation.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees each year and an average of 7,900 home fires that started with candles. From 2014 to 2018, candle fires resulted in an average of 81 civilian fire deaths, 677 civilian injuries, and $278 million in direct property damage per year.
New York state has the second highest death toll from home fires this year, with 126 deaths, after Pennsylvania at 141. At this time last year, New York had 102 home fire deaths, the fifth-highest in the nation.
“Protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday by not leaving candles unattended and turning off all decorative lights when you leave home. If you use a live tree to decorate your home this season, be sure to water it often and keep it away from heat sources to avoid fire hazards,” said FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr. “As always, FASNY wishes all new things A safe and happy Bank Holiday to Yorkers this year.”
Holiday decoration tips from FASNY and the State fire brigade association:
- Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame retardant or flame retardant.
- Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that may burn.
- Some lights are only suitable for indoor or outdoor use, but not for both.
- Replace any string lights with worn or broken wires or loose lamp connectors.
- Use staples, not nails, to hang the lights to avoid damaging the wires.
- Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
Fire safety tips for your Christmas tree
- Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire, so look for a tree with bright green needles that are difficult to pluck and less likely to break from the branches. The tree should not shed its needles so quickly.
- Always place your tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and keep the tree base filled with water to avoid drying out.
- Make sure all your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights are safety tested in a UL or ETL/ITSNA lab and discard damaged lights.
- Any lights you use outdoors must be labeled as suitable for outdoor installation and ensure you plug them into an earth leakage circuit breaker protected outlet.
- Keep all of your Christmas candles away from your Christmas tree, surrounding furniture, and decor.
- Don’t forget to turn off your Christmas tree lights every evening.
About FASNY
Founded in 1872, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of more than 85,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. Visit www.fasny.com for more information.
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