Site Accessibility Information Access Key 1 to Skip to Top Navigation Access Key 2 to Skip to the Three One One link Access Key 3 to Skip to City of Winnipeg Main Menu Access Key 4 to Skip to Left Navigation Menu Access Key 5 to Skip to Content area Access Key 6 to Skip to Right Sidebar content area Access Key 7 to Skip to Footer Links
Search Fire Paramedic Service:



Braille, Wheelchair, Large Print, and Sign Language

Accessibility Services
Provided Upon Request

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service

Holiday Fire Prevention Tips

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service would like share some tips to help you minimize the risk of a fire in your home and make your holiday season enjoyable and safe.


Lights and Decorations

It's always fun to deck the halls and trim the tree during the holiday season. But some lights and decorations can be dangerous if not used carefully. Here are some tips for ensuring your decorations stay decorative, not destructive:

  • Always use Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved holiday lights.
  • Check the bulbs, sockets, wires and plugs on your lights to ensure that nothing is cracked, broken or exposed.
  • Replace any missing bulbs on your holiday lights and ensure you are using the proper type of lights for your display (indoor or outdoor).
  • Ensure extension cords are in good condition and do not overload electric outlets.
  • Read the manufacturer instructions for information on the maximum number of light strands to connect.
  • Do not use lights on metallic trees. A faulty system could energize the tree and injure anyone who comes into contact with it.
  • Make sure to turn off all interior and exterior Christmas lights before going to sleep and whenever you are leaving your home.
  • Use only non-flammable or flame-retardant decorations, and make sure to place decorations away from heat vents and potential sources of ignition such as fireplaces.

Christmas Trees

There's nothing more festive than the scent of your Christmas tree throughout your home during the holiday season. But if you don’t take proper precautions, a natural Christmas tree can easily catch fire and rapidly fill a room with flames and deadly gases. Here are some tips for avoiding a dangerous tree situation this holiday season:

  • Choose a tree that is fresh, meaning that its needles are green, hard to pull from its branches, and not easily broken. The tree trunk should be sticky to the touch. Avoid old trees, which are dried out and therefore fire hazards. Shake the tree trunk; if many needles fall off, the tree has probably dried out.
  • Add water to the tree strand and be sure to add water daily.
  • When your tree becomes dry (losing its needles quickly), discard it promptly.
  • Keep your tree at least three (3) feet away from all heat sources, such as fireplaces, spotlights and heat vents. Heat can dry out the tree, causing it to be easily ignited by heat, flames, or sparks.
  • Keep cigarettes and candles away from your tree.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
  • Do not dispose of tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove and instead use the City’s Let's Chip In program.

Candles

Candles can be great for adding a festive feel to your home, but don’t forget to practice safe handling techniques when using them. Some tips for using candles cautiously are:

  • Never leave lit candles unattended.
  • Use approved non-combustible candleholders or bases, and place candleholders on a firm, non-slip surface.
  • Avoid putting lit candles in a drafty area to prevent uneven burning and wax dripping.
  • Extinguish a candle when it burns down to within two inches of its holder or base.
  • Keep candles away from any flammable materials, including Christmas trees, decorations, curtains, or other combustible material like bedding or cushions.
  • Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
  • Store candles in a cool, dark, dry place, and store candles flat to avoid warping.
  • Refrigerating candles before burning makes them burn more slowly and evenly. Wrap candles in foil or plastic to prevent the wick from absorbing moisture.
  • Keep wicks trimmed to half an inch and remove excess wax before storage. Long, crooked wicks can cause uneven burning and wax drippings

Test your smoke alarms and inform guests about your home fire escape plan!

Last update: Dec 15, 2017

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.