The holidays are a wonderful time to get everyone together. Unfortunately, they can also mean a greater risk of a fire in someone’s home. This holiday season, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region encourages everyone to follow simple steps to prevent home fires from holiday decorations. 

“December is the peak time for home fires involving candles and holiday decorations,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “Help protect your family by using battery-operated candles and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.”

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

Follow these safety tips and visit redcross.org/fire for more information. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

• If you must use candles, keep them away from anything that could burn, and place them out of reach of pets and children. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Check all holiday light cords to ensure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together — no more than three per extension cord. 
• Ensure outside decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
• If buying an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
• If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and keep it watered. To test if the tree is fresh, bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off. 
• Don’t light the fireplace if hanging stockings or other decorations on the mantel.

Prevent Home Fire Tragedies

To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. For more fire safety information – including how to create and practice a home escape plan with your family – visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store.

If You Need Help

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit soundthealarm.org/philly or call 215-299-4029 to schedule an appointment. In the city of Philadelphia, you can also call 3-1-1.