VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse Fire Department is sharing holiday safety tips.
Nehilah Grand-Pierre: A recent Syracuse house fire left one man dead, and just the day before, another left a firefighter injured. As we step into the holiday season, the Syracuse Fire Department is urging the community to take extra precaution this time of year.
Kelly Willcox: I think the reason numbers start to climb up during this time is because people are starting to turn their heat on.
Pete Masterpole: Every year we’ll get a couple of people deep frying a turkey and not doing it the right way
Grand-Pierre: Firefighter Pete Masterpole of the fire prevention bureau also explains how holiday decorations also pose a threat.
Masterpole: Obviously, the big thing is Christmas tree lights and Christmas trees. When they do catch fire, they go very very quickly, within a matter of seconds. If you don’t have to, use an artificial tree.
Grand-Pierre: As part of the city’s fire prevention efforts, The fire department is now offering free installs with their new smoke alarms in one or two family homes.
Masterpole: We started installing smoke detectors with 10-year sealed batteries so once you install it, all you have to do is check it every six months
Grand-Pierre: With the new smoke detector the batteries don’t need to be replaced. Still there are a couple of ways you can ensure they don’t go off too much during the holiday season.
Masterpole: If you can, buy an expensive power strip. They’re expensive, but they matter. They’re a lot, lot safer. Try not to overload it and don’t run it underneath any carpet or anything because any sort of friction like that could cause the wire to wear down.
Grand-Pierre: For a happy and safe holiday, you can submit an installation request through the fire prevention bureau page found on the City of Syracuse website. For NCC News, I’m Nehilah Grand-Pierre
SYRACUSE, N.Y (NCC News) — Though it’s never a bad time to practice fire safety, the Syracuse fire department explains why it’s especially important this time of year.
On Nov. 23, a fatal house fire claimed the life of a Syracuse man on Burnet Avenue. The following day, a house fire on Beverly Road left a firefighter injured in efforts to extinguish the flames. Moving into the holiday season, the Syracuse fire department encourages community members to take extra precaution.
“I think the reason numbers start to climb up during this time is because people are starting to turn their heat on,” said Lt. Kelly Willcox.
“Every year we’ll get a couple of people deep frying a turkey and not doing it the right way. Obviously, the big thing is Christmas tree lights. When they do catch fire, they go very, very quickly, within a matter of seconds,” said fire prevention bureau firefighter Pete Masterpole.
Firefighters also advise residents to use a plastic tree if possible, as these take longer to burn unlike the real deal.
Furthermore, as part of the city’s fire prevention efforts, The fire department is now offering free installs with their new smoke alarms in one or two family homes. These new smoke alarms come with installed batteries that don’t need replacements.
“We started installing smoke detectors with 10-year sealed batteries so once you install it, all you have to do is check it every six months,” said District Chief Matthew Craner.
Another holiday fire prevention tip Masterpole highlights is caution with power extension strips.
“If you can, buy an expensive power strip. They’re expensive, but they matter. They’re a lot, lot safer. Try not to overload it and don’t run it underneath any carpet or anything because any sort of friction like that could cause the wire to wear down”.
For a happy and safe holiday, you can submit an installation request through the fire prevention bureau page found on the City of Syracuse website, or by calling 315-448-4777.