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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1978
'KEEP CHRISTMAS HAPPY AND SAFE FROM FIRE'
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*KEEP CHRISTMAS HAPPY AND SAFE FROM FIRE' IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS THE FESTIVE SEASON DRAWS NEAR,
DURING CHRISTMAS EVERY STEP MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SLIGHTEST RISK OF STARTING A FIRE, A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TODAY (TUESDAY).
+CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, TREES, COLOURED LIGHTS AND GIFT WRAPPINGS OFTEN ADD TO THE FIRE HAZARDS IN THE HOME, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
*THE SITUATION IS AGGRAVATED BY THE LOW HUMIDITY WHICH DRIES OUT EVERYTHING THAT WILL BURN, HE WARNED.
THE SPOKESMAN SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING BASIC FIRE PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO TAKE AT HOME:
* USE NON-COMBUSTIBLE DECORATING MATERIALS WHERE POSSIBLE.
* PLASTIC ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES CAN BURN, SO KEEP THEM
WELL AWAY FROM SOURCES OF HEAT.
* CHECK ALL TREE LIGHTING SETS, ELECTRIC CANDLES AND SIMILAR
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS EXTENSION CORDS FOR FRAYED WIRES, LOOSE CONNECTIONS AND BROKEN SOCKETS. NEVER USE LIGHTED WAX CANDLES ON OR NEAR ANY TREE.
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DISPOSE GIFT WRAPPINGS AND BOXES PROMPTLY AND SAFELY.
DON'T SMOKE NEAR THE TREE, AMID DECORATIONS AND WRAPPINGS AND BE SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF LARGE AND SAFE ASHTRAYS AT HAND.
* SUPERVISE SMALL CHILDREN PLAYING NEAR THE TREE AND KEEP
MATCHES, LIGHTERS AND CANDLES OUT OF THEIR REACH.
* TURN OFF ALL TREE AND OTHER INDOOR HOLIDAY LIGHTING BEFORE
GOING TO BED OR LEAVING THE HOUSE.
THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER ADVISED ALL RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS AND DEPARTMENT STORES TO DOUBLE FIRE PRECAUTIONS DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD WHEN LARGE CROWDS ARE EXPECTED.
+ IN SUCH PREMISES,+ HE SAID, +CHRISTMAS CROWDS MAY EASILY LEAD TO PANIC IN CASE OF FIRE AND IT IS THEREFORE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO KEEP ALL EXIT ROUTES CLEARLY MARKED AND FREE OF OBSTRUCTION,+
FIRE SERVICES OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED THEIR ROUNDS OF INSPECTION TO ALL PUBLIC PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT TO ADVISE ON FIRE PREVENTION AND TO ENSURE THAT FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS ARE BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED.
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