While the holidays are filled with festive fun, family gatherings, delicious meals and sparkling decorations, they are also a time when the risk of home fires increases. Here are a few simple precautions to ensure your holiday is safe, as well as festive.
Holiday Fire Safety Tips
Maple Ridge Fire and Rescue Services encourage all residents help ensure the season is remembered for all the right reasons. Most holiday fires are preventable, so give the gift of a safe and savvy holiday with these fire safety tips. After all, 'tis the season!
Space Heaters
The weather outside is frightful, but a space heater is so delightful.
- Use only CSA or ULC approved heaters that are in good working condition. Look for the logo imprinted on it
- Keep heaters at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from anything that can burn, including furniture, curtains, papers, and pets
- Always turn off and unplug your heater when unattended. An added bonus: you’ll save on the electricity bill!
Trees and Decorations
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, …are you looking a bit crispy?
- Using a real tree? Choose one that’s not dropping needles and be sure to keep it watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming holiday kindling
- Keep your tree (real or otherwise) away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, radiators or heat vents, to help it stay green rather than crispy
- Decorate with fire resistant or fire-retardant decorations
Lights and Candles
All is calm, all is bright. Let’s keep it that way.
- Use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors
- Avoid hanging lights with staples, which can damage cords. Use approved clips instead
- Do not overload electrical outlets, and inspect cords for fraying or exposed wires
- Never leave candles unattended, especially around children and pets. Blow them out before leaving the room
Kitchen Safety
Bring us a figgy pudding! Wait, is that a flambé or is the turkey on fire?
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking, especially when using the stovetop
- Keep flammable items like towels, oven mitts, and wooden utensils away from heat sources
- If a grease fire occurs, do not use water. Cover the pan with a lid or cookie sheet and turn off the heat
- For an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed
- Ensure you have a working fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it
- If you are deep frying a turkey, set up the fryer outside, well away from the house on a flat, fire-proof surface
- Prevent dangerous hot-oil boil-overs by ensuring your turkey is fully thawed and dry and use a large pot with lots of room for the turkey and the frying oil
Fireworks
Ring in the New Year safely and responsibly.
The sale and use of fireworks and firecrackers is prohibited in Maple Ridge. A permit is required for setting off all fireworks and firecrackers. without a permit. Fireworks pose serious risk and safety hazards to the community, pets and wildlife. Violators face fines of $500 to $1000 and will be required to surrender their fireworks. To apply for a special event fireworks permit, contact the City's Bylaws Department at bylaws@mapleridge.ca or 604-467-7305.
- The sale of fireworks is prohibited in Maple Ridge.
- Fireworks are not allowed to be sold, used or set off in Maple Ridge without a valid permit.
- Be kind to our furry friends. The loud noise and bright explosions from fireworks are very traumatizing to pets and wildlife.