Check Your Cords and Plug-Ins for Winter, Holiday Fire Safety

The holidays can be a time for good cheer and….for fire hazards.

If you have a real Christmas tree, New Hampton Fire Chief Toby Schwickerath says make sure it gets plenty of water to keep it from drying out. And, whether your tree is real or artificial, don’t overload it with too many lights.

With cold temps brought on by the winter storm impacting north and northeast Iowa, you may be considering supplementing your heat with a portable heater. Schwickerath cautions that you plug them in properly to avoid a fire hazard.

Schwickerath says the same general rules also apply to electric fireplaces, make sure they’re plugged directly into the wall and follow the installation instructions.

Schwickerath says statistics from FEMA show that almost 50% of all home-heating fires occur in December, January and February.