Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office offers holiday, winter fire safety tips: Here’s what to know
WARREN COUNTY, NJ – The Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to stay safe during this winter and holiday season.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas trees were involved in approximately 160 fires annually between 2015-2019, typically resulting in more than a dozen deaths, dozens of injuries and more than $10 million in property loss and damage.
Short circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause, the NFPA said.
For Christmas tree safety tips from the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office, click here.
The Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office offers these common winter and holiday fire hazards to watch for:
Winter Fire Hazards
- Space Heaters plugged into extension cords, power strips or both.
- Space Heaters with exposed coils.
- Under desks.
- Too close to combustibles paper, plastic furniture etc.
- Plugged into an extension cord or power strip or both.
- Fire Exits Blocked by Snow or Ice.
- Fire Hydrants Blocked by Snow or Ice.
Holiday Fire Hazards
- Live evergreen inside buildings.
- Use of candles, incense or potpourri.
- Hot bulb lighting decorations.
- Excessive lights plugged into extension cords/overloaded extension cords.
Outside Smoking Hazards
- Unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
1. Sand/water filled container
- Too close to combustible material.
1. Dried vegetation
2. Mulch
Anyone with questions or concerns about holiday fire safety or fire safety in general, contact the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office at 908-835-2066 or e-mail: jlake@co.warren.nj.us.
