6 Fire-Safety Tips for the Holidays

A holiday cooking message from the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigative Unit:

• Keep your family and overnight guests safe with working smoke detectors in your home. Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries at least twice a year.  Remind your guests of your fire escape plan and designated meeting place for your home.
• Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room.
• When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. The clothing can catch on fire and the jewelry can catch on pot handles, causing spills and burns.  Try to cook on the back burners when possible and turn pot handles in so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch what is being cooked.  Keep small children out of the kitchen during cooking.
• Keep decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.
• Candles are often part of holiday decorations. Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home, or after going to bed. Candles should be located where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not  accidentally brush against them. The candle holder and any surrounding decorations should be completely noncombustible.