Fire Department Tips To Stay Safe During Holidays In Glen Ellyn

GLEN ELLYN, IL — The holiday season is a peak time for home fires, but the Glen Ellyn Fire Department has some helpful tips to keep your home and family safe in winter. These tips are things homeowners often overlook, but they can make a crucial difference if a fire breaks out in your house or neighborhood during the winter.

Make Sure Your Address Is Visible

Snow and holiday decorations can sometimes make it hard for fire trucks to find the address of a home during an emergency. The fire department advises homeowners to "ensure that house numbers are clearly visible after holiday decorations are installed." If snow obscures the numbers on your mailbox, take a minute to brush it off. "It is important that emergency personnel can quickly locate addresses when responding to a call," fire officials said in a release.

Adopt A Fire Hydrant

Adopting a fire hydrant may sound a little odd, but it's a minor task that can help save lives in case of a fire. The Glen Ellyn Fire Department suggests that residents adopt a fire hydrant in their neighborhood and keep an eye on it when snow accumulates. Fire officials say "clearing snow from around fire hydrants all the way to the street helps to ensure it is accessible to the Fire Company in times of emergency."

Practice Everyday Fire Safety

In addition to these winter tips, it's important to continue to practice everyday fire safety during the holiday season. These tips include determining a plan in case of emergency, following fire and police departments on social media, and registering with Smart911.com.

For additional fire safety tips, visit the Glen Ellyn Fire Department website.

>>Image via Shutterstock