The FDNY shares some tips for decorating safely. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
The FDNY wants to make sure you do it right, avoiding a fire that not could only cost you your holidays, but also your life.
Some tips, shared on the Fire Department Twitter feed, are:
- Choose decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
- Be sure candles are away from decorations and other things that can burn.
- Make sure you are using lights properly, keeping outdoor lights outside and indoor lights inside.
- Replace any string of lights that has worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
- Read instructions to learn the number of light strands you can safely connect.
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights, so the cords do not get damaged.
Holiday lights and other decorative lighting with line voltage were involved in an estimated average of 150 home structure fires per year in 2007-2011, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
On average, these fires caused nine civilian deaths, 16 civilian injuries, and $8.4 million in direct property damage a year, the National Fire Protection Association states.
“Keep yourself safe this holiday season by decorating carefully,” a statement from the FDNY Smart website reads.
No comments yet.