Keep Lemont Fire Department District's Wreath Red This Holiday Season

As residents turn up the heat in their homes to fight the cold winter air, the Lemont Fire Protection District urges them to keep safety in mind.

Officials said last year in Illinois heating equipment caused 355 fires, resulting in 12 injuries, one death and more than $12.5 million in property damage.

Lemont Fire Protection District will once again host its annual “Keep the Wreath Red” program to remind residents to take additional safety precautions during the holiday season.

Thanks to the generosity of the Lemont Garden Club, a wreath with red bulbs will be displayed outside the fire station through Jan. 1. If a holiday related fire occurs during this time, one of the red lights in each station's wreath will be changed to white.

The Lemont Fire Protection District asks that residents do their part to practice fire safety during the holiday months with the following tips:

• Use caution with holiday decorations and only choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant materials.
• Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and never use candles to decorate Christmas trees. Place candles on higher furniture, where they won’t be knocked over by children or pets. Never place lit candles in windows, where they could ignite blinds or curtains.
• Use UL approved lights and electrical decorations, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance.
• Take care not to overload extension cords.
• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, so when cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• Have working smoke alarms installed on every level of the home, test them 
monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.

For more information or assistance with fire safety, contact Jeff Hawthorne at the Lemont Bureau of Fire Prevention at (630)257-0191 or visit lemontfire.com.

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