MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) -- Thanksgiving and Christmas are special times of the year, but Marshfield fire chief Scott Owen says it's also an important time to keep 'fire safety' in mind. The chief says common sense measures can prevent fires from ruining an otherwise joyous holiday season.
"The big thing is using common sense. Making sure that we're not plugging too much into outlets, that we're not putting cords underneath rugs," Owen explained. "And if people have properly maintained their chimneys, properly maintained their furnaces, we're hoping to not have to interact with them."
Space heaters are one of the most common sources of fires and should be kept three feet from other objects, and plugged directly into wall receptacles, not into power strips or extension cords. And Owen says candles are another common fire hazard around Christmas.
Once again this year, fire departments across central Wisconsin are participating in the 25th annual "Keep the Wreath Green" campaign to raise awareness about preventing structure fires during the holidays.
Each participating station hangs a wreath, and every time a fire occurs, a red bulb replaces a green one, Owen said. "The campaign starts on Thanksgiving, and it will run through New Year's Eve. The program starts out with all green bulbs on our wreath."
Last year, the campaign ended with eight red bulbs on the wreath, representing the number of structure fires in Wood County. Other central Wisconsin fire departments participating in the "Keep the Wreath Green" campaign include Wausau, Stevens Point, and even many smaller communities like Pittsville take part in the campaign.
Comments