2010 Holiday Fire Safety Reminder

From our Fire Department Family to yours...

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 individuals and cause over $930 million dollars in damage nationally. Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) encourages you to follow these simple life-saving steps to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

Candles

• Always use candle sticks or non flammable holders.
• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Christmas Lights

• Do not link more than three lights strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
• Any lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulbs should not be used.
• Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

Cooking

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S..
• If you must leave the kitchen while preparing food, set a timer or carry a pot holder to remind you that food is cooking.

Christmas Trees

• Keep your tree away from fireplaces, portable and baseboard heaters.
• Try to keep fresh cut trees as moist as possible by giving it plenty of water each day.
• Dispose of fresh-cut trees properly. Never burn it in a fireplace or wood stove.

West Slope Garage Fire

Incident Date: 12/8/2010
Issuing Officer: Faith Mueller
Incident Location:  8131 S. 14th Street

Incident Type: Residential Garage Fire

Narrative: At 4:49 a.m. 6 companies of Tacoma Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Medic Unit and Command Staff responded to a reported residential garage fire.

First arriving companies found a heavily involved detached garage fire. Crews attacked the fire with a 2 1/2 inch hose line and protected nearby exposures from catching on fire.

The cause of the fire was malfunctioning heating equipment, resulting in approximately $44,500 damage to the property and its contents. There were no injuries to report.