With winter unofficially here, the Emporia Fire Department is reminding residents about ways to reduce the fire risk during the holidays.
Fire Marshal Reason Bradford, a KVOE Newsmaker guest this week, says one concern throughout the season will be the use of space heaters.
Firefighters say you shouldn’t use more than one space heater for a room, and you have to keep any combustible material away from space heaters.
A holiday-specific issue happens to be one of the biggest visuals of the season: Christmas trees.
People also need to be careful with extension cords with a lot of people using those for their Christmas lights.
Bradford says people don’t put as many candles on Christmas trees as they used to, which is good because candles are a fire hazard by themselves and, coupled with a live tree that has dried out, could significantly increase the fire risk.
If you have a fireplace or alternative heating source, Bradford says it’s best to get those checked if you haven’t already done so.
If you’re concerned about your house’s wiring, contact an electrician to have it checked.
