Deck the halls with boughs of holly and working smoke alarms! To ensure you have a safe and happy holiday, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service is sharing some important fire safety reminders and maintenance tips.

Don’t let your stockings go up in smoke

Even though stockings hung from the mantel look festive, do not leave them there when the fireplace is in use. Never burn gift wrappings, boxes, cartons or other types of packaging in the fireplace. These items burn rapidly and generate a lot of heat.

Christmas tree care

If you have a natural or organic Christmas tree at home, keep the base of the trunk in water at all times – a dry tree is a fire hazard. Watch this video to see how quickly a Christmas tree can go up in flames! Keep plants and real and artificial trees away from any ignition source, such as a fireplace, heaters or candles. Indoor LED lights are the safest option for your Christmas tree, but make sure to check the cords of your decorative lights closely – discard any sets that are frayed or damaged as they can pose a safety issue.

Swap real candles for flameless ones

If lighting candles, always use non-flammable candle holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked over, away from Christmas trees or other festive decor as paper decorations, tinsel, tablecloths and napkins can be a fire hazard. Never leave candles unattended and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Better yet, use battery-powered flameless candles instead.

Have working smoke alarms and a home escape plan 

Smoke alarms save lives – you could have less than two minutes to evacuate safely once a fire starts. That’s why it’s important to have working smoke alarms to give you early warning and a home escape plan to get everyone outside quickly. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the button. Make sure everyone in your household knows the different sounds a smoke alarm makes.

For more information and holiday fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire.