- 5
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1974.
EXTRA FIRE PRECAUTIONS NEEDED DURING X'MAS
******
A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT EXTRA FIRE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN DURING THE COMING HOLIDAY PERIOD.
HE WARNED = +CHRISTMAS TREES, COLOURED LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS WILL ADD TO FIRE HAZARDS IN THE HOME. SOMETIMES, A COMBINATION OF ACTIVE CHILDREN AND PREOCCUPIED PARENTS ALLOW THE ONE MOMENT OF CARELESSNESS WHICH IS ALL THAT FIRE NEEDS.+
HE ADVISED THE USE OF NON-COMBUSTIBLE DECORATING MATERIALS, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE AND ALSO POINTED OUT THAT USING WAX CANDLES TO DECORATE A CHRISTMAS TREE WAS HIGHLY DANGEROUS.
+CHECK TREE LIGHTING SETS, ELECTRIC CANDLES AND SIMILAR HOLIDAY LIGHTING EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS EXTENSION CORDS, FOR FRAYED WIRES, LOOSE CONNECTIONS AND BROKEN SOCKETS, HE URGED. +A FEW PRECAUTIONS TAKEN NOW COULD PREVENT TRAGEDY STRIKING DURING THE HOLIDAY, HE ADDED.
HE SAID ALL TREE AND OTHER HOLIDAY ILLUMINATIONS SHOULD BE TURNED OFF BEFORE GOING OUT OR TO BED.
+DON'T ALLOW SMOKING NEAR THE TREE AMIDST DECORATIONS AND WRAPPINGS,+ HE STATED. +HAVE PLENTY OF LARGE, SAFE ASHTRAYS AROUND AND USE THEM.+
-
SMALL CHILDREN PLAYING NEAR THE TREE SHOULD BE SUPERVISED AND MATCHES, LIGHTERS AND CANDLES KEPT WELL OUT OF THEIR REACH. THEY SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME.
+THE BEST FORM OF PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE IS PREVENTION,+ HE DECLARED. +NOBODY SHOULD ASSUME THAT FIRE CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO THEM. IT CAN STRIKE ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY DURING HOLIDAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO BE CARELESS.+
· 16