By planning ahead Medina County, you can help make this Halloween fire-safe

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

Halloween festivities can make the holiday special for kids and adults alike.  Watching the children run door to door to trick-or-treat and enjoying the decorations that are displayed can be very exciting, but also a danger.  Glowing jack-o-lanterns, dried cornstalks and flowing costumes together can become a fire risk.  Taking some fire safety precautions can help ensure a safe holiday full of fun. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the following are the top five Halloween fire safety tips:

  *Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns

  *When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric

  *Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.

  *Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters

  *Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.

Halloween fire facts:

From 2014-2018, an average of 770 home structure fires began with decorations per year.

More than two of every five (44%) of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment.

More than one-third (36%) of these fires were started by candles.

More than one-fifth (22%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen; 16% began in the living room.

Source: NFPA Applied Research

By planning ahead, you can help make this Halloween fire-safe. 

If you do experience a house fire during this Halloween season, call SERVPRO of Medina County/Gateway/Western Lake County at 1-800-933-7179.