The Ankeny Fire Department is asking all Ankeny residents to “Keep the Wreath Green” this holiday season. This week, a wreath with several green bulbs was put on display in front of Ankeny Fire Station Headquarters, 120 NW Ash Drive. For every holiday-related fire in Ankeny in December, a green bulb will be removed from the wreath and replaced with a red bulb to recognize the incident and remind citizens to be safe. The Ankeny Fire Department is encouraging everyone to elevate their awareness of fire prevention measures and help keep the wreath as green and bright as possible this holiday season.
The holiday season is a time when fires frequently occur; however, many fires can be avoided by following these safety guidelines.
Live Christmas Trees
- Natural trees should be kept well-watered.
- When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.
- Keep the tree in an area away from a radiator, fireplace, or other heat sources.
- Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
- Never put tree branches in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
- Always follow the same safety tips listed regarding decorations.
- If you use a candleholder, such as a menorah, kinara, or advent wreathe, it should be non-flammable, sturdy, and placed on a sturdy, non-flammable surface.
- Keep paper and other flammable items away from candles.
- Never move candles when lit.
- Lit candles must be attended at all times. Extinguish the candles if leaving the room.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
- Do not overload outlets. Be careful how many items you plug into a receptacle.
- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
- Follow manufacturer recommendations for the maximum number of light sets to string together.
- Do not leave lights on unattended. Always unplug lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.
- For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's). Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples (available at hardware stores) to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks.
- Never use real candles on a tree or near other evergreens or decorations. Open flames from candles often lead to fire. December is the peak month for candle fires, with nearly twice the average number of incidents.
- When decorating the house with candles, always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked over by children or pets. Even better, use battery powered fake candles.
- Make sure that your chimney and fireplace are maintained and inspected on an annual basis. To avoid the build-up of creosote in the flue, don’t burn pine or other woods with high tar content.
- Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. It can throw off dangerous sparks and a flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
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