ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
People everywhere will soon be decking their halls with boughs of holly and other lights and ornaments. With that in mind, the Liberal Fire Department would like to offer some advice to have a safe and happy holiday.
“Christmas, like Thanksgiving, is a big food time for a lot of families, so if you're planning a big meal, make sure to take the same safety precautions such as making sure your cooking area is clean and clear of old grease and dirt, etc., and make sure all flammable materials are out of the way,” Liberal Fire Chief Kelly Kirk said. “When people decorate their houses, a lot of people do outside and inside decorations, especially their tree. If you plan on getting a real tree, be sure to do some research beforehand, because real trees can dry out very, very quickly and become a hazard. If you've got a real tree, make sure to make a 45-degree cut at the base and be sure to water it every day while you have it up. After the holiday, be sure to properly dispose of it, don't just take it outside and burn it. The leading cause of Christmas tree fires is them being placed too close to in-floor heating vents or space heaters or candles or other items like that. I read somewhere how December is THE time of year for candle fires. Candles are nice, and I know a lot of people have them, but we encourage people to make sure they're keeping their candles away from their tree or to use battery-operated flameless candles.”
Kirk added safety should also be considered for outdoor displays.
“Around here, we see everything from simpler displays with just lights to way more elaborate displays with lights and inflatables and all of that,” Kirk said. “If you have lights left over from last year, be sure to inspect them when you get them out and make sure there are no exposed wires or broken bulbs or anything like that. The important thing is to make sure everything is actually in good working condition and if not, replace it if you can. When you put up outdoor decorations, put them up securely and make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on how many light strands can be plugged in together. Also, make sure you have enough outlets to power everything you've got up outside – we have seen some situations where people don't have enough outlets and ultimately have to plug in from inside, and they'll use the windows or doors to do that, which can ultimately pinch everything up, which leads to problems. The main thing is just making sure to have everything secured. And, we are in Southwest Kansas, which means we can see anything and everything from high winds to rain to sleet and/or snow, all of which can wreak havoc. If some type of emergency weather situation happens, go out afterward and check all the outlets and everything else and make sure everything is clear and not buried in snow or in a puddle of water. It's always a good idea to have some measures in place to make sure everything is properly secured so there's no damage.”
Kirk added this time of the year is not really that different from the rest of the year for the Liberal Fire Department.
“In my experience – and I've been here for more than 30 years – we have seen some significant house fires caused by improperly used extension cords, so that's why we always stress using the manufacturer instructions,” Kirk said. “We do also see some electrical shorts, but if a home's electrical system does its job, the breaker will flip before things go too far. But there are, unfortunately, ways that can be bypassed, which we very much discourage. Like with haunted houses at Halloween, if you're going to set up something big, be careful of where you put everything and make sure there aren't any major hazards, especially since those displays are usually seen in the dark. Something else to keep in mind is how you'll power everything up, so make sure you have a plan for that as well.”
Like always, Kirk said he and the rest of the LFD staff are ready to respond to any situation that comes up.
“Like with the other holidays, we hope for no calls, but we're prepared to respond to anything, that's our job. We hope people take just those few extra simple precautions to make sure everything is safe, and that should help a great deal,” Kirk said. “Something else that should be mentioned for this year is how more and more Christmas gifts are using lithium ion batteries – we haven't really dealt with those situations on a large scale around here, but in the larger cities, there have been fires caused by lithium ion batteries in scooters and other similar items overheating because the recipient will plug it in to charge overnight and just leave it, which isn't the best idea. If you get anything like that for Christmas, be sure and educate yourself on the best and safest way(s) to take care of it.”
Overall, Kirk said, he hopes for a safe and happy holiday season around Liberal.
“If anyone ever has any questions or concerns, we are here to help. We always try to be approachable to everyone in the community, and everyone is welcome to call the LFD office at (620) 626-0128, and someone will be able to help,” Kirk said. “That's our job, we're here for the community. But if there's something we're not able to fully help with, we can guide you to resources that can help. If everyone will just take a little extra time to plan, and if everyone will take some simple precautions, it'll be a happy holiday season for everyone.”
