With the holiday season coming soon, the threat of fire is evident. It'll be a busy five weeks, as residents of Estevan prepare for many aspects of the occasion, like food,  decorations and the family coming over. That being said, Fire Chief Dale Fieser has tips so that everyone is safe. 

  • Choose decorations that are either flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
  • Keep lit candles or flammable items away from decorations.
  • Pay attention with the types of lighting products. This means only using outdoor lights outside, as it emits a lot more radiant heat. Indoor lights, like the type that would be wrapped around the tree, should only be used inside because they aren't designed to take the cold weather. 
  • Fix or replace ones that look damaged, torn or have loose bulb connections due to a possible electrical shock hazard or shorting out the wiring.
  • Instead of nails, use clips when hanging lights. There's a risk of running the nail through the wire and cause an electrical short.
  • Limit decorations around exits and windows. In case of an emergency and patrons need to leave the house, there's a chance that they get entangled. 
  • Test your smoke alarms. With the amount of cooking that could entail this holiday season, you'll want to make sure that they are working properly.
  • Keep children away from combustibles and lit candles.

Overall, Chief Fieser wants the city of Estevan to be safe this holiday season. With that, you can consult this safety flyer from the Estevan Fire Rescue for more tips.