With the holiday season ramping up, the Detroit Fire Department is actively educating the public on fire safety measures, especially regarding festive decorations and holiday cooking. The department, represented by their Public Instruction Unit headed by Captain Edward Davis and Fire Marshal Don Thomas, demonstrated the rapid danger a dry Christmas tree can pose during a live burn event for media, as reported by the City of Detroit.
Urging Detroiters to practice caution, Captain Davis emphasized the quick onset of danger when a room fills with smoke. "It only takes a few breaths in a room filled with smoke for a person to become unconscious, which usually results in a fatality," Davis told the City of Detroit. The department outlined several steps to minimize risk: choosing a fresh tree, keeping it watered, checking for the appropriateness of lights and distance from heat sources, and responsible disposal of the tree after the festivities end.
The risk of fire extends beyond Christmas trees. Citing statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the holiday season sees on average, an estimated 835 home structure fires that begin with decorations other than Christmas trees. These fires lead to a grave outcome of around 3 civilian fire deaths, 30 injuries, and $14 million in direct property damages annually. Smart placement of candles, use of proper lighting, and having an unobstructed escape path are just a few of the precautions the department recommends.
Given that December and January are peak months for candle fires, comprising 11 percent of home fire incidents, the Detroit Fire Department also shared candle safety tips with the community. They suggest keeping candles at least one foot away from anything flammable and being diligent about extinguishing them when leaving the room or going to bed. Moreover, holiday cooking presents another potential fire hazard, with the combination of alcohol and cooking being particularly dangerous. Residents are advised to supervise their cooking and keep anything flammable away from the stovetop.
