Fire safety over the holidays

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - When it’s time to bring down the decorations after Christmas and New Year, folks may want to know the best way to do so safely.

We talked to the Laramie County fire authority about their advice. Fire officials say that after Santa has gone back to the north pole.

It’s important to keep watering your live tree until it’s ready for disposal to prevent fires.

Pick a moderate weather day when it’s time to take down house lights. Unplug all lights and take a friend or a cellphone with you.

For fire safety, plan out escape routes throughout your house, and have a meeting place away from danger.

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“Ive noticed a lot of kids ..Including my own kids are very very afraid to break windows or do anything like that .So make sure when you are role playing these things with your kids so if the fire is here and you cant get out you’re going to break the window like what can you use to do that ..Just have them pretend,” said Heidi Poch, Volunteer Firefighter Laramie County Fire Authority.

Fire officials also recommend checking and updating fire extinguishers and smoke or carbon monoxide detectors this time of year to keep those Life Savers functional.

Since Dec., there have been 13 fires across the districts.

Officials recommend setting timers for cooking, plugging heating elements directly into walls and keeping heating areas clear.

Even though Cheyenne Fire Rescue incident numbers are trending downward, there’s been a recent uptick in fires.

We spoke to the Fire Rescue folks about why and what you can do to stay safe.

According to fire officials, fires are always increased this time of year.

Heating elements used for severe weather and holiday cooking are usually the cause.

Failure to maintain heating elements, distracted cooking, not keeping dryer ducts clean, and keeping combustibles close to heating elements add to fire incidences.

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“Reach out to Cheyenne Fire Rescue; we can do in-home inspections for people that are worried about their elderly parents maybe. We have a great commercial inspection program that our inspectors take care of for the business community,” said Andrew Dykshorn, Division Chief of Operations Cheyenne Fire Rescue.

Since Dec., there have been 13 fires across the districts.

Officials recommend setting timers for cooking, plugging heating elements directly into walls and keeping heating areas clear.