Saskatchewan fire marshal gives safety tips for the holidays

With Christmas coming up on Sunday, fire crews from across the province want people to stay safe when gathering with family and friends.

That’s why the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is encouraging residents to participate in the 12 Days of Holiday Safety campaign.

Provincial fire marshal Wayne Rodger told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday that fire prevention starts with tree safety.

“If you got a real tree, make sure it stays watered. They take a lot of water. If they’re allowed to dry out, they become very combustible,” he said.

According to Rodger, since newer LED lights emit less heat than older ones, it’s unlikely for them to set a Christmas tree — real or fake — on fire.

However, faulty wiring can result in heat being generated, which could cause the tree to burn.

In the past, the fire marshal has responded to a number of fires that were started by a candle left unattended.

“If you’re going to leave the room, blow (the candle) out and keep it out of the reach of children and pets so you don’t knock them over,” Rodger said.

In the event of a fire, Rodger recommends that pathways to front and rear doors are kept clear so that people don’t trip and fall when trying to leave the house.

It’s also important to make sure that power bars and extension cords are CSA-approved.

Although people don’t usually give them much thought, lithium-ion batteries, like the ones found in smartphones and e-bikes, can cause fires.

They are very powerful and create a lot of energy, which can generate heat. Misuse of batteries can cause that energy to escape, Rodger said.

As for e-bikes, the fire marshal suggests that people keep them properly maintained.

“We bring them into the house or into our apartment to charge them up … so if there’s a failure somewhere … it could quite easily start a fire,” he added.

Rodger confirmed that unattended stovetop cooking exercises are still the No. 1 cause of fires.

“The element that provides the heat, over time, will actually evaporate whatever moisture is in the container or the pot. I’ve seen Kraft Dinner ignite out of this lack of supervision,” he said.