Cullman Fire Marshal Chris Chaffin talks fire safety.
CULLMAN – As we approach Christmas, Cullman County fire officials are encouraging citizens to be aware of the unique safety challenges this season brings. Homes often see more clutter, more activity around fireplaces, more cooking, more electrical usage (often with "creative" use of wiring), more people and more distractions.
An informal survey of a few local fire chiefs and firefighters helps bring things into focus. The Tribune spoke with Chief Edward Reinhardt of Cullman, Chief Rodger Green of Hanceville, Chief Ralph Laney of Berlin, Rodney Hays from the Holly Pond Volunteer Fire Department and Gene Mayfield from the Walter Volunteer Fire Department. The three most common issues they mentioned encountering in a typical Christmas season are:
Kitchen fires, especially when cooks are trying to prepare too many things at once, or are distracted by kids or house guests
Electrical fires from overloaded circuits or shorted wiring in lights
Ignition of flammable objects and decorations placed too close to heat sources (fireplaces, candles, space heaters, heat lamps for pets or plants)
Cullman Fire Marshal Chris Chaffin (with additional notes from the above-mentioned sources) offered detailed advice on protecting one's home and family from fire hazards during the Christmas season:
Christmas trees
- Have the bottoms of live trees freshly cut, so they will more easily absorb water.
- Water live trees DAILY. (According to Chaffin, they are "thirsty, thirsty vegetation.")
- Turn off tree lights at bedtime, even on artificial trees.
- Don't use live candles on the tree.
- Keep trees away from fireplaces and space heaters.
Decorative lights and candles
- Keep candles out of the reach of children.
- As mentioned above, don't put candles on the tree.
- Use plastic clips to hang lights; nails can accidentally penetrate wiring and cause shorts.
- Check labels to see if lights are for indoor or outdoor use, and use accordingly.
Lit fireplaces
- Have the chimney flue cleaned before the first usage of the season.
- Use a grate or screen in front of the fireplace.
- Keep stockings and other decorations out from in front of a lit fireplace.
- Don't set up the tree too close, and don't let gifts pile up toward the fireplace.
Kitchen
- Keep kids out of a busy kitchen.
- Limit the number of cooks and "official tasters" in the kitchen.
- Keep lids handy; cover a grease fire and turn off the stove.
- Don't try to carry a pan full of flaming grease through the kitchen and out the door.
- Don't try to cook everything at once.
- No matter how cold it is, don't bring outdoor grills indoors.
Emergency/escape plan
- Have a fire escape plan, and go over it with visitors.
- When rearranging furniture or setting up decorations, don't block doors.
General seasonal advice
- Get gas lines checked before you turn the heat on for the first time in the season.
- Have a fire extinguisher or two, and make sure they are charged.
- Use smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and keep good batteries in them.
- Buy space heaters with tip-over switches that can turn them off automatically.
- Keep space heaters away from flammable materials.
- Turn off space heaters when you leave a room or go to bed.
- Avoid the use of any outdoor heating or cooking device for indoor heat.
- If using heat lamps to protect pets or plants, make sure those devices are not mounted on, close to, or pointing directly at combustible materials.
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