Light up your tree or add lots of candles to your home, the Christmas spirit makes you want to create a certain atmosphere in your home, but can be conducive to fires.
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Here are some tips from the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SIM) to prevent your evening from getting out of hand.
Christmas tree (artificial and natural)
• Install your Christmas tree far from heat sources (electric baseboard heaters, auxiliary heating, fireplace, etc.);
• Turn off your Christmas tree lights before going to sleep and when you leave the house;
• Cut the base of your natural tree by about one centimeter before placing it in a container filled with water;
• Maintain a good water level at the base of your natural tree at all times to prevent it from drying out;
• Store your natural tree outside and in the shade after the holiday season to prevent it from drying out until it is picked up during collection;
• Move the dried tree away from the building, balcony, emergency exit or combustible materials.
Candles and lights
- Turn off the lights of your interior and exterior decorations before going to sleep and when you leave the house;
- Place candles out of the reach of children or animals;
- Protect candle flames with a non-combustible container;
- Extinguish all candles and lights before leaving a room or going to sleep;
- Use an approved multi-outlet extension cord equipped with an overcurrent protection system;
- Choose battery-powered candles and LED light displays;
- Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources such as light bulbs, string lights and heaters, etc.;
- Do not put any open flame candles in Christmas trees.
Kitchen
- Use a timer so you don’t forget your dishes cooking on or in the stove and cooking appliances;
- Monitor the stove or cooking appliances at all times when preparing meals;
- Be sure to turn off the stove or cooking appliances when you leave the house;
- Make sure you always have a working fire extinguisher on hand.
The use of technological tools (lithium-ion battery/cell)
- Check that the device battery is not damaged. When the time comes to replace the battery, store the old batteries in non-combustible containers away from heat;
- Use a charger model that meets Canadian electrical safety standards and is approved for the device;
- Protect the battery from potential sources of heat for prolonged periods and avoid contact with water;
- Remain present in your home when recharging a device and respect the maximum time provided for recharging;
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Smoke alarm
- Make sure you have a working smoke alarm per floor, including the basement;
- The SIM strongly recommends the installation of smoke alarms in bedrooms and more specifically when sleeping with the door closed.