St. Catharines Fire Services Launches Holiday Fire Safety Campaign
Keep the Holidays Merry and Bright: St. Catharines fire Services Launches Holiday Safety Campaign
St. Catharines, ON – As twinkling lights and festive cheer fill homes across St. Catharines, the St. Catharines Fire Services is reminding residents to prioritize fire and carbon monoxide safety this holiday season.
Starting tomorrow, December 12th, the Fire Services will be joining the Ontario Fire Marshal’s “12 Days of Holiday Safety” campaign, offering daily tips to help residents navigate the season safely. The campaign runs through December 23rd.
“Most fatal fires occur during the holiday season,” says St. Catharines fire Chief Dave Upper. “Protect yourself and your loved ones by ensuring you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Test them monthly, replace the batteries, and practice your home escape plan. Most fatal residential fires did not have working smoke alarms.”
Chief Upper encourages residents to follow the St. Catharines Fire Services’ “12 days of Holiday Fire Safety” campaign for essential tips on avoiding common fire hazards, including unattended cooking, space heaters, and careless smoking.
From the glow of candles and twinkling lights to the warmth of fireplaces and the hustle of holiday cooking, the season presents unique fire risks.
Each day, the St. catharines Fire Services will share a new fire safety tip on their X (formerly Twitter) account. The city will also amplify these messages on its X,Facebook,and instagram accounts. Links to these and other City social media channels can be found at www.stcatharines.ca/socialmedia.
Simple Steps for a Safer Holiday:
Water real Christmas trees daily to prevent them from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
Never leave cooking unattended. Stay in the kitchen while preparing holiday meals.
Smoke outside. Keep cigarettes, lighters, and matches away from children and flammable materials. Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.
* Practice your home fire escape plan wiht all guests and family members.
For the complete list of holiday safety tips, visit stcatharines.ca/HolidaySafety.
Keeping holiday Cheer Bright: A Conversation wiht Fire Chief Dave Upper
NewsDirectory3.com: The holiday season is a joyful time, but also brings unique fire risks. what prompted the St. Catharines Fire Services to launch this 12 Days of Holiday Safety campaign?
Chief Upper: Every year, we see a tragic increase in home fires during the holidays. Many of these fires are preventable. We want to equip our residents with the knowledge and tools to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.
NewsDirectory3.com: What are some of the biggest fire hazards people should be aware of during this time of year?
Chief Upper: From twinkling lights to cozy fireplaces and holiday cooking, there are many potential dangers. Unattended cooking,space heaters,and careless smoking are major culprits,as are dry Christmas trees.
NewsDirectory3.com: You mentioned working smoke alarms as being crucial. Why are they so important, especially during the holidays?
Chief Upper: Most fatal fires occur in homes without working smoke alarms. they’re your first line of defense, providing vital time to escape if a fire breaks out. Residents should test their alarms monthly and replace batteries regularly.
NewsDirectory3.com: Where can residents find the daily tips for the “12 Days of Holiday Safety” campaign?
Chief Upper: We’ll be sharing crucial safety tips each day on our X account (@StCatharinesFire) and the city will also be sharing them on their X, Facebook, and Instagram pages. You can find all the links on the city website: stcatharines.ca/socialmedia.
NewsDirectory3.com: Any final words of advice for our readers as they gear up for the holiday season?
Chief Upper: Be vigilant. Don’t let holiday distractions prevent you from practicing fire safety.Remember to water your Christmas tree regularly, never leave cooking unattended, and always practise your home escape plan. Together, we can make this a safe and joyous holiday season for everyone.