Winter Safety

Follow these tips when purchasing your Christmas tree

When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the “Fire Resistant Label”. When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. Fresh trees are green, and the needles are hard to pull out of the branch. Tap the trunk on the ground to check for loose needles; the tree should not lose any needles.

Holiday Decorations

  • Don’t overload extension cords and power strips.
  • Always look for the marking of a recognized testing lab.
  • Be sure to heed warnings on ladders. Tens of thousands of people are treated for injuries related to ladder falls in November and December while putting up lights and decorations.
  • Prevent fires and shocks by throwing out damaged or frayed light sets.
  • Avoid sharp, breakable decorations in homes with young children.

Keep the Wreath Red Campaign

“Keep the Wreath Red” program is an annual event aimed at increasing awareness of safety during the holiday season. Outside both of our fire stations in Villa Park, there is a wreath with red lights. The wreaths remain lit 24 hours a day during the holiday season, from December 1 through January 1. If a fire occurs that is determined to be the result of a holiday decoration, a white bulb replaces a red bulb on the wreath. The hope is that the wreath will serve as a constant reminder to practice safety while displaying holiday decorations.

Winter Fire Hydrant Care

Do you have a fire hydrant in front of your home or business? Help the Fire Department this winter by keeping it clear of snow and accessible in the event of a fire. Precious time can be lost if a fire hydrant is not easily seen which can increase the possibility of a life loss and greater property loss. Here are several things that you can do to help keep the fire hydrant near your home in working order and ready for emergency use. Remember, we may need that fire hydrant for your home.

  • Throw snow in a direction away from the fire hydrant.
  • If the snow accumulates around the hydrant, shovel a path around the hydrant.
  • For visibility, keep the snow level below the top of the hydrant.