Fire Safety Is Focus Of Plainfield FD 'Keep The Wreath Red' Effort

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield Fire Protection District is once again participating in a holiday campaign to remind locals of fire safety.

As part of the "Keep the Wreath Red" effort, all four Plainfield fire stations are decorated with a wreath adorned in red string lights. If a fire starts as a result of holiday decorations, the red lights will be replaced with white ones, officials said.

The wreaths and lights, displayed through Jan. 2, are meant to encourage locals to maintain safe practices and keep the wreaths red.

To help, firefighters provided a list of tips:

• Beware of lighted candles. Candles often get forgotten or knocked over by pets or children.
• Beware of space heaters. Space heaters need space. Do not put space heaters near curtains, tablecloths, or other loose fabrics. Plug space heaters directly into an outlet, do not use extension cords. Be sure to turn the space heater off when leaving the area.
• Cover your fireplace with a screen. Tempered glass or a metal screen helps protect sparks from leaving the fireplace.
• Have your chimneys and vents checked. Fireplaces produce creosote which can ignite.
• Have your furnace inspected and serviced yearly for proper operation.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Make sure the batteries are fresh if they have them.
• Keep natural Christmas trees watered; do not rely on chemical sprays to make your tree flame retardant.
• Do not overload extension cords.
• Unplug holiday lights before leaving home or sleeping.