Are you Breaking Any of These Winter Fire Safety Tips?

The Stow Fire Department's schedule gets busier this time of year.

Not to be a Scrooge, but Fire Marshal Jim Leidel said some holiday decorations contribute to the holiday fires. 

Here are some tips from the fire marshal to stay fire-free this winter:

• Do not hide extension cords under rugs or under furniture. "They cannot dissipate heat in that circumstance and can cause a fire."
• Do not leave candles unattended.  "Extinguish them when you leave the room, even if it's for a few minutes."
•  Use UL listed and approved extension cords for the "appropriate amperage draw of the appliance it is powering."
• Do not "daisy chain" or plug one extension cord into another.
• Check water daily on live Christmas trees. "If the tree is not taking water, a new cut may be required to keep the tree from dying prematurely." Watch the YouTube video attached to this post to see how quickly a tree can catch fire and burn.
• Make sure gas fireplaces have a clean blue flame. "Any other color flame will produce carbon monoxide, which can be deadly."
• Have the furnace inspected yearly and change the filter and keep fireplaces clean.
• Have a fire extinguisher, working smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector in the home. 

"Knowing how to use the fire extinguisher is important," Leidel said. "Use the PASS method."

• P-ull the pin from the handle
• A-im the nozzle at the base of the fire
• S-queeze the handle to activate the extinguisher
• S-weep the nozzle back and forth until the fire is extinguished