Public Advisory: The 12 Days of Fire Safety ï¿½ Day Five

Municipal Affairs
December 15, 2015

Public Advisory: The 12 Days of Fire Safety ï¿½ Day Five

Christmas lights are a common sight in Newfoundland and Labrador during the holiday season.

These colourful displays add a festive cheer to everything from trees, to boats, to homes ï¿½ but they must be correctly set up to reduce the risk of fire.

Take these steps to help ensure holiday safety this season:

Getting Started

Never use lit candles to decorate your tree;
Purchase the proper lights and accessories for the job. For example, only use outdoor lights and extension cords on your homeï¿½s exterior;
Consider LED lights as they are brighter, more energy-efficient and are less likely to overload electrical circuits;
Purchase the proper clips and hangers for your lights. Avoid using nails, screws and staples. These items damage cords and conduct electricity that can cause serious harm and increase fire risk;
Inspect light strings and extension cords for any sign of wear and tear before reusing them;
Replace any light string with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections; and
Ensure extension cords have a wire gauge rating that meets your needs and, if being used outside, are designated for exterior use.

Decorating

Never overload electrical outlets;
Never use indoor-rated lights outside;
Avoid stringing different light types together. For example, do not plug a string of new LED lights into an older, incandescent one;
Never pinch extension cords by running them through doorways or windows; and
Always ensure plugs are fully inserted into outlets. Weak connections can cause overheating and sparks.

All residents of the province are invited to visit @FES_GovNL on Twitter during the 12 Days of Fire Safety to complete our fire safety quiz for the chance to win an emergency preparedness kit.

For more information about fire safety and emergency preparedness, visit the FES-NL website: www.gov.nl.ca/fes/index.html

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Media contact:
Ryan Crocker
Media Relations Manager
Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0857, 709-690-1810
ryancrocker@gov.nl.ca

2015 12 15 2:20 p.m.

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