As the holiday season officially begins, the Attala County Fire Department is encouraging locals to practice fire safety techniques, prevent accidents by being aware of potential warning signs, and be able to efficiently and safely operate if a fire does occur.
Captain Morgan Smith of the Attala County Fire Department explained that according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the leading cause of house fires and home fire injuries from 2015-2019 was cooking. It was also the second leading cause of home fire deaths. During those years, cooking caused 49 percent of all structure fires with 42 percent of those resulting in injuries and 20 percent resulting in fatality.
A holiday season spent with family can be filled with unorganized chaos. When cooking large meals, entertaining guests, and spending time with family, an important safety precaution may accidentally become an afterthought.
When asked for the best ways to prevent a kitchen fire, Smith said remaining attentive is the most important factor.
“Attentiveness will be the best thing,” said Smith. “Don't get preoccupied by folding clothes, doing chores around the house, or letting the little ones distract you.”
Smith said if children are nearby when cooking, turn pot and pan handles inward and away from their reachability.
“We've had, in the past, where kids have gotten burned or they have had grease spilled on themselves. You don't want to leave kids unattended around your stove,” said Smith. “When I was raised, we had a kid's table. Now, the reason we had a kid's table was because the food was hot, and we weren’t supposed to engage in adult conversation anyways at that time.”
Grease fires are also prominent during the holidays. Smith said having a fire extinguisher is essential, but grease fires can also be smothered.
“Grease fires this time of year are probably the number one issue. With a grease fire, you want to keep a pot lid nearby so you can smother it. You also want a fire extinguisher available to you, which you can get at Walmart for next to nothing,” said Smith.
To smother a grease fire, other useful tools are flour and baking soda, but Smith said the latter is much more efficient. Smith said to never carry an inflamed grease pan outside or put it in the sink.
“You don't want to grab your grease pan and try to carry it outside or stick it in the sink because then you increase chances of making it worse by spreading it. You definitely don’t want to throw water on it,” said Smith. “If they're scared to mess with it because it’s a grease fire, leave it there on the stove. If you’ve got a vent hood and you can reach it without burning yourself, turn your vent hood off. Leave it there, get everybody out of the house, close the doors, get out, and call 9-1-1.”
With Christmastime approaching, Smith said holiday lights can become a fire hazard if improperly used. Any lights purchased should be Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved, which Smith said covers most Christmas lights sold in stores.
“You want to buy the appropriate kind of lights for the appropriate kind of decoration you’re using,” he said. “You don't want to use outdoor lights on your indoor tree because they burn a little hotter, per se. But a lot of it has now moved to LEDs and all that is pretty much out the window. The most appropriate thing to do is to get a power strip for your lights because it has a little circuit breaker in there.”
Having a real Christmas tree inside the home also requires care and attentiveness. If the tree is not watered regularly, it can dry out and potentially become a fire hazard. Smith said his family always had a real Christmas tree growing up, and his parents taught him to treat it like a new pet in the house — consistently taking care of it.
Smith said gifts and wrapping paper should be kept away from electrical outlets. Christmas trees and gifts should also be kept away from wall and space heaters. Additionally, use of extension cords should be minimized because it can become a tripping hazard.
Shooting fireworks is another holiday festivity that can quickly turn into a fire hazard. Smith said the weather is a key factor in determining if it is safe to shoot fireworks in an area or not.
“With the recent frost, vegetation is dying now, so you want to be aware of your weather. You don't want to shoot fireworks off in a big, dry field,” said Smith. “With the frost killing the grass, the humidity now dropping, and the light breeze we’ve got, it all makes a perfect mixture for a little fire to turn into a big one.”
Smith said if people choose to burn Christmas present wrappings and boxes, have a garden or leaf rake available, a water hose that can reach it, and never leave it unattended.
According to the NFPA, from 2014 to 2018, fire departments responded to an average of 7,610 home structure fires caused by candles each year.
“It’s important to blow candles out when you’re not in the room,” said Smith. “Blow your pumpkin spice out when you leave the room or go to sleep.”
By following preventive measures, remaining attentive, and knowing the proper steps to mitigate a fire, locals should be equipped to handle any mishaps the holidays may bring.
County Fire Chief Danny Townsend said he hopes everyone enjoys the holiday season while remembering practices to stay safe.
“Everybody have a safe and happy holiday,” said Townsend. “That’s our main goal, for everybody to stay safe.”
