SOUTHWICK/WESTFIELD – State and local officials are urging the public to use their safety prevention tips for the holiday season pointing out that Christmas is the second busiest day for house fires behind Thanksgiving.
Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey reminded the commonwealth to stay cautious.
“Firefighters are not the kind of guests you want during the winter holidays, so please make fire safety part of your celebrations,” said Ostroskey in a release from the Department of Massachusetts Fire Services.
Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson. (WNG File Photo)
Locally, Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson said that the department doesn’t typically get a lot of calls on Christmas day, but call quantities tend to be higher throughout the holiday season.
“As the weather gets colder, our calls go up,” said Anderson.
In the release from Ostroskey, it points to cooking as the leading cause of house fires during the Christmas holiday. While Ostroskey gave tips about putting a lid on the pan and not leaving your cooking pan unattended, Anderson has received calls about that in the past and is always worried about that situation.
“It’s always a concern for us,” said Anderson.
Another cause to house fires during the Christmas season that Anderson pointed out was the danger of people lighting candles. Anderson is encouraging homeowners that if they are using candles, to make sure they are away from things that may cause them to tip over and definitely keep them away from pets and young children.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, one-third of Christmas tree fires are a result of electrical issues. State Fire Marshal Ostroskey provided a tip about Christmas tree safety.
“Always keep your Christmas trees watered, place it well away from a heat source, and dispose of them promptly after the holidays,” said Ostroskey.
Anderson added that if people are using extension cords, they should shy away from having them run under rugs and make sure the cords are in good condition and not frayed.
If anyone has thoughts or questions about house fire safety during the holidays, contact the Southwick Fire Department at 413-569-6363.
Westfield Fire Deputy Chief and Fire Prevention Officer Eric Bishop
In Westfield, a cooking-related fire has occurred each of the past two years around Christmas, according to Deputy Chief Eric Bishop.
“Cooking fires, statistically you’re going to have more,” Bishop said. “You’re going to have more cooking fires the day more people are cooking for families.”
Bishop suggests that when cooking, make sure not to wear loose-fitting clothing. In addition, if you end up with a grease fire, be sure to use a lid to extinguish the fire, not water, or else the fire can spread.
Also, the State Fire Marshal suggests that you “stand by your pan” when cooking.
“Leaving cooking unattended, even for a minute, is the leading cause of fires,” Peter Ostroskey, State Fire Marshal, said.
The second-leading cause of holiday fires is from heat sources, according to the State Fire Marshal. The office suggests having furnaces and chimneys checked by professionals before use, and to properly dispose of ashes in metal lidded cans outside of the home. In addition, Ostroskey suggests a three-foot rule with heating sources, making sure combustible items are at least three feet away from heating sources.
In addition to cooking and heating sources, holiday decorations can also lead to household fires, so Bishop urges additional safety around the home.
First, the popular home accent of candles can lead to fires and was the cause of a recent fire in the city on Dickinson Place, according to Bishop.
Bishop urges people to always be aware of candles in the home if they are lit.
“Don’t leave candles unattended, blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed,” he also said.
A burnt electrical outlet, in the possession of the Westfield Fire Department.
Also, be aware of who or what may be around candles. Bishop said that you should burn candles within a one-foot circle of safety, away from possibly flammable materials. Also, they should be out of the reach of children or pets.
In addition to keeping Christmas trees away from heat sources, Bishop also suggests that you should never use candles for decorating a Christmas tree and that frequent watering of your tree will reduce the quickness of it drying out and becoming more susceptible to fire.
When decorating your tree and home, it is also urged to purchase energy-efficient lighting and decorations, in part due to the fact that they do not become as hot as other decorations. And when you’re plugging in all those decorations, be sure to not overload any outlets, which can also cause home fires.
Finally, when decorating outside—if you haven’t already, that is—then be sure to utilize outdoor-rated lights and other decorations. Also, if you’re using extension cords make certain that the cord is rated for outdoor use, as well.
Reporter Dan Desrochers contributed to this story.
