AVFRD : It's Time To Deck The Halls, But Follow NFPA's Simple Safety Tips To Help Keep Yourself And Your Family And Friends Safer From Fire.

Ashburn VA

04 December, 2021

9:21 AM

Description

Press release from the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department: Samantha Bailey December 4th, 2021 Holiday decorations U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2015-2019. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries and $13 million in direct property damage. One in five home decoration fires occurred in December. The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in more than two of every five incidents. Year-round, more than one-third of home decoration fires were started by candles. Cooking started 19 percent of decoration fires, 12 percent involved electrical distribution and lighting equipment, heating equipment was involved in 11 percent, 8 percent were intentionally set, and smoking materials started 7 percent. Candles caused 45 percent of home decoration fires in December. Source:  https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Winter-holidays/Holiday-fires-by-the-numbers For kids and families Whether you are looking for coloring pages, activity sheets or e-cards, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has what you need to keep you fire-safe this holiday season. Play This press release was produced by the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.