Safety tips for the holidays

While holiday decorations are beautiful, they can become a fire hazard. 

"A reminder to never leave candles unattended,” says Steinbach Fire Chief Kel Toews. “This is a season where a lot of people are burning candles. If you're lighting candles, make sure you're in the room at all times. Make sure you extinguish the candles when you're done.” 

He says candle use should be done with a lot of caution and alert mind. 

“If you’ve had a little too much eggnog, don't light candles, don't be baking. It's not a good idea.” 

Toews says a mind that is impaired for any reason, whether from alcohol or drugs, or lack of sleep, that can be a recipe for disaster. 

When it comes to bringing natural trees into our homes and businesses, Toews says they require a lot of water every day to prevent them from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. 

“Keep it watered and water it two or three times a day,” he says. “They suck up a lot of water and dry out very easily. So, keep them watered. Also, if you're putting lights on the tree, every year check your lights to make sure they're in good condition." 

While checking strings of lights, Toews says to look for any signs of cracking or brittle coating. Those are indicators that you should not use those strings. 

“This would also be a good time to check that your smoke detectors are working so that if it does ignite, that you're going to get some early warning, can leave the house and call the fire department.”