Halloween Fire Safety Tips

9/28/2021 (Permalink)

Prepare for a safe and happy Halloween!

As we enter in the holiday season there are many things you might want to consider to keep you and your loved ones safe this season.  Halloween is right around the corner and is a fun, festive holiday for kids and adults.  One of the most iconic parts of Halloween involve candles in pumpkin jack o’lanterns, and strung colored lights around the house and trees.  Porch decorations such as dried corn stalks, and hay adorn many houses during this Halloween season.  Occasionally these fun festive things can become a fire hazard waiting to happen and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a few tips for you to keep your Halloween as safe as possible.  

Decorations for special events, most often involving candles, account for an annual average of 800 home fires, causing nearly $4 million in direct property damage, according to NFPA. Additionally, in the United States, more than 100 people die each year as a result of their clothing becoming ignited. 

Here are the top tips from the NFPA:

Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns.  When planning party decorations, bear in mind that dried flowers and cornstalks are highly flammable. Keep crepe paper and other decorations well away from all heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters, etc. Decorating with candles should be avoided. Pumpkins can be safely illuminated with small, inexpensive flashlights. When decorating, remember to keep exits clear. Be sure children are supervised at all times.

When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric.  Purchase only those costumes, wigs and props labeled as flame resistant or retardant. When creating a costume, plan carefully to ensure that it won’t easily ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame. Costumes should be made without billowing or long trailing features that present a higher risk of ignition. Avoid highly flammable fabrics and accessories.

Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.  Instruct children to stay away from open flames or other heat sources. Be sure each child knows the stop, drop and roll technique in the event their clothing catches fire. (Stop immediately, drop to the ground covering your face with your hands, and roll over and over to extinguish the flames.) Instruct children who are attending parties at others’ homes to locate the exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency.