Use these resources for fire safety in every season and during the holidays!

Kitchen Fires

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries.

What to do if you have a fire in the kitchen:

  • Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. 
    Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
  • If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
  • For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
  • If the fire is getting bigger Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
  • Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave the house
Outdoor Fire Safety

Grilling:

  • Never use charcoal or gas grills indoors.
  • Keep grills at least 10 feet away from your home and other buildings.
  • Never leave hot grills unattended.  
  • View the Recreational Fire Guidelines if you plan to use fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, or fire rings.
Fireworks

Fireworks:

  • The sale, use, or possession of fireworks is illegal in the City of Harrisonburg. Illegal fireworks will be confiscated. (City Code Section 16-6-57.)
  • The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals.
Thanksgiving

Statistics show that cooking fires nearly double on Thanksgiving Day, occurring more than twice as often than on another day.  

Thanksgiving Day home fires cause more property damage and claim more lives than home fires on other days.

Please use the following cooking safety tips: 

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
  • Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
  • Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
  • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
  • Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
  • Keep knives out of the reach of children.
  • Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
  • Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.
  • Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
     

Turkey Fryers:

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. These turkey fryers use a substantial quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures, and units currently available for home use pose a significant danger that hot oil will be released at some point during the cooking process. The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries and the destruction of property.

Keep your family safe this Thanksgiving by staying in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling or roasting food.  If you must use a turkey fryer, make sure it is outdoors and in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures that could catch on fire and away from moisture that can cause serious burns from steam or splattering hot oil. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

After your Thanksgiving guests leave, ask a family member to perform a home safety check to ensure that all candles and smoking materials are extinguished.  More tips on how to keep your family safe this Thanksgiving!

Christmas

Make your holiday a fire safe event! Celebrate the holidays safely with these fire safety tips.

Trees:

  • Keep live trees watered! - Keep your tree in a sturdy base filled with water.  Check the water level every day.  Christmas trees account for 200 fires annually, resulting in six deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage.  The YouTube video, from the National Institute from Standards and Technology (NIST), demonstrates how quickly a tree can burn.
  • Do not use candles on or near the Christmas tree.
  • Place the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces and heaters.
  • Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously dry. Never burn the tree or tree parts in your fireplace. (The City of Harrisonburg Public Works offers Christmas/holiday tree collection in January. Residents may place their trees at the curb for collection. After the designated collection dates, residents may place their trees curbside on their regularly scheduled bulk and yard debris collection days.)

 

Lights:

  • Maintain your holiday lights - Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory (UL approved).
  • Never use lights that have an empty socket.
  • Lights should not touch combustible materials.
  • "Indoor" lights should never be used outdoors.
  • Avoid using extension cords, but if you do, follow instructions carefully.
  • Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
  • Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch. 
  • Do not overload electrical circuits such as wall outlets and extension cords.  Use a circuit strip.

 

Gift Wrap:

  • Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace - It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion. 
  • Keep papers, bows and trims away from heat sources such as fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, etc. 

 

Other Holiday Decorations:

  • Candles -  During December, there are almost twice as many candle fires as are averaged during the other 11 months.  If you use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave candles unattended. During power outages, use a flashlight or battery-powered lamp when possible.  

 

Additional Tips:

Related Pages
Fire