(Fire Safety - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG — People need to be safe when decorating for the holidays and the impending cold weather.

Parkersburg Fire Department Chief Jason Matthews said holiday safety begins with having properly working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Smoke detectors should be placed throughout the house including near bedrooms and common areas where people can be.

“They operate quickly and give you some time to get out safely and call 911,” Matthews said.

He advises people to check detectors monthly to make sure the batteries are working properly, including some of the newer models that have a 10-year battery.

“Make sure they are working,” Matthews said. “Get use to the sound of it. If you wake up at 2 a.m. and it is going off you need to know that is the smoke alarm or the CO detector and you need to know ‘I need to get up and get out.'”

This time of year many Christmas trees are being put up.

“If people have a live tree, make sure it has water and check it everyday,” Matthews said. “People need to regularly add water to it so it is not drying out.

“If they dry out, they can essentially become like a torch. They can burn up that quickly.”

Matthews advises people to use extension cords and surge protectors properly. He advises people to read the instructions that come with them and use them as the manufacturer recommends.

Many surge protectors are used for office equipment and TVs.

“You don’t want to daisy chain multiple surge protectors together,” Matthews said. “We have seen that quite a bit.

“Don’t plug one into another one and then plug more stuff into that one.”

When it comes to exterior lights, Matthews advises using proper extension cords designed for outside use.

This time of year, more people are using space heaters. Space heaters require being plugged directly into an outlet.

“Many extension cords aren’t heavy enough to run that kind of an appliance,” Matthews said. “They can draw a lot of power and can damage those types of cords.

“They can malfunction and cause fires.”

They need a lot of space around them and Matthews said if people leave the room they need to turn them off.

This time of year, many people are also lighting scented candles and more. Matthews said people need to make sure they blow them out if they leave.

“You need to turn space heaters off or blow out candles if you are not going to be there,” Matthews said. “It could easily catch something on fire, drapes, carpet or furniture on fire.”

Last year in Ohio, there were 209 fires reported on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated average of 835 home structure fires per year that begin with decorations, not including Christmas trees.

These fires cause an annual average of three fire deaths, 30 fire injuries, and $14 million in property damage. In addition, nearly one out of every five Christmas tree fires are started by lamps or bulbs, and 11% are started by candles, according to the press release.

The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office is recommending people use LED lights for both live and artificial trees compared to more traditional incandescent holiday lights as they use 75-90% less electricity and produce less heat.

They also recommend people check their light strands for frayed or pinched wires and discard any damaged sets.

When decorating outdoors, the fire marshal recommends only using lights designed for outdoor use, secure them properly, and connect them to a ground fault interrupter circuit.

To avoid overloading electrical circuits, do not connect too many light sets together and avoid using frayed or cracked extension cords, they recommended.

People need to make sure to always turn off lights and other electrical decorations when they go to bed or leave the house.

Make sure trees and decorations are located at least three feet away from all heating sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heating vents.

Never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking, as this can be a major fire risk. Avoid overloading outlets with cooking equipment and stay focused on cooking tasks.

When a home has working smoke alarms, the risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by nearly 60%, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Smoke alarms do not prevent fires from happening, but they give individuals extra time to get out of the home in the event of a fire.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential fires result in billions of dollars in damages each year, with the primary causes being electrical malfunctions.

One in three Christmas tree fires are due to electrical problems, meaning homeowners should be extra cautious with what they put on or near the tree.

Other common mistakes that can lead to Christmas disasters include putting decorations close to a heat source, or layering too many electrics on top of each other.

“The holidays are a time for celebration, but all Ohioans need to be diligent when it comes to fire safety,” said Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “When decorating, simple safety steps can help you eliminate fire risks in your home and ensure your holiday is a safe and enjoyable one for everyone.”