Seasonal Safety

Christmas Trees

Natural 

• When using a natural tree, choose one that is fresh and cut at least one inch off the trunk before placing it in a stand. The stand should hold at least two to three litres of water.
• Water the tree with fresh clean water. Do not add sugar or other additives as these may prevent water from entering the trunk.

Natural and Artificial 

• Keep the tree away from a heating vent or fireplace that will cause drying.
• Make sure that the tree is placed somewhere that will not block an exit.
• Turn off the tree lights when you go out and when you go to bed.

Holiday Parties

• Ask smokers to smoke outside.
• If you allow smoking inside:
  • Have lots of large ashtrays with centre cigarette rests for guests who smoke.
  • Empty ashtrays into metal cans or soak with water when you are cleaning up at the end of the night. Place the ash cans outside to cool.
  • After all guests leave, check for discarded cigarette butts.
  • Be sure that lighters, matches and alcohol have not been left in reach of children.

Holiday Cooking 

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking using the stovetop.

• Keep a tight fitting lid handy to smother flames, if a fire starts.

• Never move a burning pot.

• Never put water on any type of cooking fire.

• Wear tight fitting sleeves and tie back loose clothing when near the stove.

• Keep pot handles turned inward, away from the front of the stove, to prevent them from being knocked over or pulled down by small children.

Costumes

• Only purchase costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. 
• When making a costume, choose a material that will not catch fire easily if it comes into contact with heat or fire. Avoid billowing or long trailing features on costumes.
• Teach children to stay away from open flames and other heat sources.  Review "Stop, Drop and Roll" with children in case their clothes catch fire.

Decorations

• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable.  Keep these and other decorations far away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters and candles.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations and make sure nothing blocks escape routes.

Candles and Flashlights

• Use flashlights or battery-operated candles when lighting jack-o'-lanterns.  
• Supervise children at all times when using candles. When lighting candles inside jack-o'-lanterns, use long fireplace-style matches or barbecue-style lighters.
• Place lit pumpkins away from anything that can burn.
• Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torchlights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters in case costumes brush against them.
• Give children lightweight flashlights to carry for the evening out.

Home fires happen most during the winter season. Protect your home and family with these tips:

Heating

• Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months. Half of fires due to heating equipment occur between December and February.  For more information, read the NFPA's heating safety tips sheet (PDF).

• Space heaters accounted for one-third of home heating fires and four out of five of home heating fire deaths.

• The leading factor for home heating fires was failure to clean creosote from chimneys.

• Placing heating equipment too close to things that can burn cause more than half of home heating fire deaths.

Candles

According to a report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas, New Year's and Halloween are among the highest days of the year for candle fires.Keep burning candles away from flammable material such as furniture, wall coverings, tree, plants and other decorative items.

Electrical Concerns

• Throw out worn or faulty electrical cords and decorations to ensure electrical safety.

• Keep bulbs and flood lights away from flammable items indoors and out.

• Use extension cords carefully. Never overload cords and use power bars with breakers, where possible. Never run cords under rugs or staple to walls or floors.

Wood-burning Fireplace

• Have your fireplace checked by a W.E.T.T. (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) certified contractor prior to use.

• Never burn wrapping paper or boxes in the fireplace.

• Always use a tight-fitting screen or doors to stop stray sparks.

• When cleaning out the fireplace, put ashes in a metal container outdoors.

Spring is the perfect time to tackle overdue cleaning and home repair projects. Don't forget to add some home safety checks to your to-do list. Here's a few tips to get you started:

Spring Cleaning

• Cooking-related fires are the number one cause of house fires in Burlington. The risk of a cooking fire can simply be reduced by cleaning any grease buildup inside your oven and stovetop.

• Check and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace any alarms that are older than 10 years
• Have your furnace and other fuel-burning appliances inspected and serviced by a qualified technician
• Test barbecue lines by applying a 50/50 solution of water and dish soap to all fuel and hose connections and then clean off built-up grease
• Pull the refrigerator out and vacuum or dust the coils
• Check and clean filters above the stove
• Throw out and replace any damaged electrical cords

Yard Cleanup and Open-Air Burning

Spring weather also brings more outdoor clean-up activities.
Rural residents burning brush must remember that a permit is required and that burning is allowed only in approved areas.
Visit www.burlington.ca/openairburning to learn more.

Other Resources

Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Spring and Summer Safety Tips

Summer is about sun, fun and relaxation. But did you know it’s one of the most dangerous seasons for fire-related injuries and deaths?

Before you head to the cottage, fire up the barbecue or kick back fireside, keep these safety tips in mind.

Check and protect your cottage or cabin

• Before unpacking your bags, look around.
• Are there working smoke alarms on every level and outside all sleeping areas? If your cottage has a wood, oil or gas-burning appliance, install carbon monoxide alarms.
• Pack a new alarm and batteries in case they need replacement. Have a qualified technician inspect heating appliances and check chimneys for animal nests before use.

Know the rules about outdoor burning

• Understand your city’s open-air burning rules and regulations before buying a fire bowl, chiminea or creating a fire pit.
• In Burlington, open-air burning is only allowed north of Dundas Street and HWY 407. City permits are required for any residence within an approved open-air burning area. Permits are free.
• Avoid burning during burning bans, smog alerts and dry or windy weather.

Camping

• When camping, keep fires small and controllable. That means: no more than one metre (three feet) high by one metre (three feet) in diameter.
• Maintain at least a two metre (six foot) area around your campfire.
• Never use gasoline to start a fire. If you need to use a fire starter, use sparingly and never put directly on an open flame.
• Keep children at a safe distance away from fire. As little as one-second contact with a 70 C (158 F) campfire can cause third degree burns. The average campfire can get as hot as 500 C (932 F) in as little as three hours.
• Keep a bucket of water, sand or shovel close by and supervise the fire at all times.

Grill fires

• According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year an average of 8,800 home fires are caused by grilling. July is the peak month for grill fires followed by May, June and August.
• Remove greasy buildup on and below the grill surface.
• Place your barbecue away from your home, deck railings and under eaves.
• Make sure the grill lid is open before lighting and never leave a lit grill unattended.
• Nearly half of all injuries involving grills are from thermal burns. Use long-handled grilling utensils and heat-resistant oven mitts to prevent burns.

Other Resources

Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Spring and Summer Safety Tips
Burlington Lifestyle Article: Fire Safety Rules for your Backyard