City of Bowling Green, Kentucky

Halloween Fire Safety

• Purchase only flame-resistant or flame-retardant costumes.
• Use flashlights or battery-powered candles when illuminating jack o’ lanterns.
• If you choose candles, keep the pumpkin away from anything that can burn. This is especially critical if your area is experiencing drought conditions. Lawns and shrubbery can be extremely dry and a fire can start in an instant. Keep decorations such as dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper away from heat sources.
• Illuminate walkways with flashlights or battery-powered candles instead of regular candles or torch lights.
• Provide your child with glowsticks or a lightweight flashlight for trick or treating.

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips

• Follow the manufacturer recommendations for the amount of oil to add to your turkey fryer; do not overfill and risk starting a fire.
• Never leave turkey fryers unattended. Monitor the temp closely. If smoke comes from the oil, turn the burner off - the oil is overheated.
• If you're baking or roasting food for your holiday meal, use timers as a reminder to check the food periodically to help lessen the chance of a kitchen fire. However, you should stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Only use turkey fryers outdoors away from anything that can catch fire. Never place it on wooden decks, in a garage or under carports.
• If deep frying turkeys, the turkey must be thawed. Frozen turkeys placed in hot oil can be explosive and very dangerous.
• Wear short close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking to help prevent them from dangling and catching fire on a stove burner.
• When cooking, turn pot handles away from the stove's edge to prevent the pan from being knocked or pulled off the stove.
• Keep children at least 3 feet away from the stove while cooking.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them monthly by pushing the test button.

Christmas Fire Safety Tips

• Check all smoke detectors and repair/replace any that don't work.
• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Know how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
• Prepare an exit plan with a meeting spot outside and practice the plan with your family.
• Keep fresh Christmas trees sufficiently watered so the needles don't dry out. Fresh trees can drink a gallon of water a day.
• Keep Christmas trees away from all heat sources and exits.
• Make sure artificial trees are flame-retardant.
• Never decorate metal trees with electric lights.
• Only purchase UL listed lights and decorations.
• Unplug lights before going to bed or leaving your home.
• Never run electrical cords through doorways or under rugs.
• Inspect and replace lights and extension cords with exposed wires or damaged cords.
• Don't overload electrical outlets. Use power strips instead.
• Never leave burning candles unattended or place them near combustibles.
• Only burn well-seasoned, dry wood in your fireplace. Never burn paper in a fireplace.