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Make Fire Safety A Priority During The Holidays

By Joel Hardy

12/03/2013

(KAIR)--Holiday lights and candles may look beautiful and make our homes look festive, but if you aren’t careful, they can pose a hazard as well. While a vast majority of people are putting electric lights on their tree, there are still some that use actual candles, something that Atchison fire chief Mike McDermed strongly recommends against. He also says that people should be aware of how long they have been using their electrical lights, as older, worn out lights can be a fire risk. He states that old, worn out lights should be replaced as soon as possible.

McDermed also encourages people to know how much power they are using when stringing up lights. Too often, people string together too many lights for one power source, and it could result in an overloaded circuit, and possibly, an electrical fire.

Finally, he says that while the department does not encourage the use of extension cords, if you do choose to use one, make sure you have a cord that is strong enough to handle the job.

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