BRAMPTON – During this holiday season, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services is encouraging everyone to exercise additional caution when using tree lights, candles and other flammable materials.

"Holiday fun can quickly turn to tragedy," said Fire Chief Terry Irwin. "People need to be especially vigilant when it comes to fire safety during the holiday season."

According to statistics from the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office, the number of fires and fire deaths typically rises sharply during the holiday season. Gatherings of family and friends can mean an increase in cooking activity, which is the leading cause of home fires.

Alcohol consumption also tends to increase this time of year and is cited as a contributing factor in many of Ontario's fire deaths. Add candles, holiday decorations and heating equipment to the mix and the potential for disaster is great. To make your holiday a safe one, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services offers the following tips:

Trees:

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Lights:

• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold.

Decorations:

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child from swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
• Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Fireplaces:

• Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

In Ontario, it is the law to have working smoke alarms. Brampton Fire and Emergency Services recommends you install one on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Residents should test alarms regularly and change the batteries at least once a year.

New smoke alarm legislation introduced in 2006 means that homeowners across Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on each storey of their home in addition to outside all sleeping areas. Failure to do so could result in a ticket for $235.

Landlords must make sure their rental properties comply with the law. Individual landlords who fail to comply with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can face penalties of up to $25,000.

Based on a recommendation from the Fire Marshal of Ontario, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services is adopting a zero tolerance approach when it comes to enforcing Fire Code smoke alarm requirements, effective immediately. The legislation applies to all single family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner-occupied or rented. For homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, non-compliance with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $50,000.

Landlords must make sure their rental properties comply with the law. Individual landlords who fail to comply with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can face penalties of up to $25,000. For more information about keeping your holidays safe, visit www.brampton.ca/fire/holiday to read more about fire prevention.