Holiday Fire Safety Tips for Home and Campus

Reported by University of Nevada, Las Vegas (also News On 6 on MSN) · November 12 at 1:55 PM · Summary by Wall & Wick

UNLV's Business Affairs office, working with Risk Management & Safety, has published holiday fire safety tips for employees at home and on campus. The guidance covers unattended cooking, decorations and lights, space heaters, candles and open flames, and live versus artificial trees. It also describes the university's Christmas tree recycling program across the Las Vegas Valley.

Background

Unattended cooking is one of the most common causes of home fires, and dry live trees become more flammable over time. Fire safety guidance generally focuses on keeping heat sources and open flames away from combustible materials and checking that electrical decorations are in good condition.

Why it matters

Holiday decorating puts more lights, candles, and trees into the home, which is when many fire risks show up.

What you can do

Check that light strings are rated for your use and undamaged before plugging them in, and keep live trees watered and away from heaters and open flames. Keep an eye on the stove when cooking.

Written by Wall & Wick from the report by University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Background is general information, not advice about your home; if you are worried, call your vet.