Firefighters offer holiday safety tips | Community Spirit

The holidays are here and St. George Fire Protection District officials want you to have a safe and enjoyable time. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.

There are more house fires on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. Most of those fires stem from inattentive cooking. Never leave cooking food unattended.

Keep clutter and loose clothing away from the stove.

Turn pot handles in and away from children’s reach.

Make sure those cooking appliances you may only use once or twice a year are in good working order.

Don’t overload electric outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use.

If a fire flares up in the oven, don’t open the oven door. Turn the oven off and call 9-1-1.

Don’t throw water on a grease fire. Instead, cover the burning pan with a lid.

Use pot holders to prevent burns.

If you fry turkeys, do it away from the house.

Never put a partially frozen turkey into hot oil.

Observe the “three foot rule” when decorating. Never place combustible items within three feet of ANY open flame or source of heat.

Make sure your Christmas Tree is fresh. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Shedding needles is a sign of a dry tree.

Keep your tree fresh by placing it a stand that holds water and remember to water it.

Make sure artificial trees are fire retardant.

Place your tree away from direct sources of heat.

Never block an exit with a tree.

Throw away decorations whose electric cords are dry, brittle or cracked.

Only buy lights that are approved by a national testing lab.

Don’t string more than three strings of lights together.

If using outside lights, make sure they are rated for outside use.

Always unplug lights before going to bed.

Never run electrical cords through doorways or under rugs.

Keep candles in a holder and away from combustibles.

Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace.

Don’t hang stockings near an open flame.