It
’s the time of year for glowing fireplaces, sparkling
decorations and high fire risk.
It’s the time of year for glowing fireplaces, sparkling decorations and high fire risk.
Local fire officials are reminding residents to be aware of fire hazards in their homes, from the visible ones, such as dry Christmas trees, to the invisible ones, such as damaged or dirty chimneys.
The South Santa Clara County Fire district has had an unusually high number of fire calls relating to home heating appliances, said Battalion Chief Derek Witmer. Particularly with recent weeks of nighttime temperatures nearing 30 degrees, more people are putting themselves and their property at risk, he said.
South County firefighters have responded to as many as eight fires in recent weeks, Witmer said. Most were related to chimneys that required maintenance, and were contained to the chimney or attic, he said.
A regular chimney sweep would have gone a long way toward preventing the fires. Creosote, a tar-like substance produced by burning wood, naturally builds up on the inside of chimneys and can cause an uncontrolled fire.
“We recommend people (clean their chimneys) at least once a year,” Witmer said. This also is a good time of year to test all smoke detectors and replace any that are not working.
People who use their wood-burning fireplace frequently should have sweeps more often, along with an inspection of the chimney to look for cracks or other problems.
Terry Bozzo, with A Clean Sweep Chimney in Gilroy, said residents who use their fireplaces for heat usually get sweeps and inspections like clockwork.
“This is the time of year when it normally gets busy,” Bozzo said. “Everybody, right around the time of Thanksgiving, they want their fireplace cleaned.”
Still, homeowners who burn wood less frequently – say, for special occasions – often don’t realize the importance of getting a sweep and inspection until it’s too late, he said.
Chimney fires are easy to detect, Bozzo said. Besides producing heavy smoke, “it sounds like a freight train going off, and it looks like a Roman candle.”
He also advises against using artificial fireplace logs, because they are more likely to clog the chimney’s flue. They also react adversely to water and can “explode” if they come into contact with water while burning.
After a fire in the fireplace, deposit all ashes in a closed metal container, outside on a non-combustible surface, Witmer said. Do not store ashes in a paper bag or on a wood deck.
Electrical heating appliances can pose a fire hazard if placed near combustible materials. Place them far away from furniture, curtains, or Christmas trees. Use only heating appliances that are tested by a recognized testing organization, and those that have a tip-over safety switch.
Trees
During the holiday season, many people bring a potential major fire hazard into their homes: A Christmas tree. Christmas trees cause 400 fires annually in this country, killing 10 people and injuring 80 others, and causing more than $15 million in property damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Dry and neglected trees, when ignited by an open flame, can become engulfed in a matter of seconds, the USFA says. In contrast, a wet tree will not light easily and, after being exposed to an open flame, may even extinguish itself, based on testing by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. When choosing a live tree, find one that has green needles that do not easily break and a sticky trunk. Keep the tree stand filled with water. Discard the tree promptly if it becomes dry.
Artificial trees should be labeled as fire resistant, meaning it will not burn easily and, should it catch fire, will extinguish quickly.
Lights
Like Clark Griswold, Chevy Chase’s character in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” many homeowners splurge on hundreds or thousands of Christmas lights. Most newer lights stay cool to the touch, but each string, whether new or old, should be checked for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken sockets, and excessive wear before being put up, the USFA says. Use only lights that have been tested for safety.
Keep outlets and extension cords safe by limiting the number of lights strands connected: Three strands should be the limit, unless the manufacturer says more is safe. Do not leave holiday lights on unattended, and do not cover up extension cords, which may generate heat. Check the wires periodically, though – they should not be warm to the touch.
Candles
As with lights, burning candles should not be left unattended. Never decorate a tree with lit candles, or place candles near a tree. Unattended candles and candles in close proximity to combustible materials are the two leading causes of thousands of candle fires each year, according to the USFA.
Only use candles that are in stable holders. The National Candle Association also recommends trimming a candle’s wick to 1/4 inch before each use, keeping it out of drafts, vents and air currents, and extinguishing a candle if it smokes, flickers repeatedly, or the flame becomes too high.
For more information, or if you need a smoke detector, contact the South Santa Clara County Fire District at 779-7353.
For more tips on holiday fire prevention, go to www.usfa.fema.gov
