Halloween:
- Use glow sticks or battery-operated candles for jack-o-lanterns and other decorations.
- When choosing costumes, avoid long trailing fabric.
- Provide trick-or-treaters with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.
- Teach children to stay away from open flames, including pumpkins with candles in them.
- Keep Halloween decorations away from open flames and other heat sources.
- Remember to keep exits clear of decorations and keep nothing blocks escape routes.
- Make sure all smoke alarms are working.
- Tell children to stay way from open flames including pumpkins with candles in them. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
Download: West Fargo Fire Department Pumpkin Carving Template (PDF)
Thanksgiving:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop to keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking turkey and check on it frequently.
- Keep children at least three feet away from the stove when cooking.
- Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.
- Keep anything that can catch fire, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging or towels, away from your stovetop.
- If you have a small grease cooking fire:
- Stovetop - Smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- Oven - Turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
- If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire...just get out. Close the door behind you and call 911 from outside the home.
Holiday Decorating:
- Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant.
- Keep lit candles away from decorations and other flammable items.
- Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
- Blow out lit candles when leaving a room or going to bed.
- Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords.
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
- Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.