Fire Safety is a year round concern, but this concern escalates as we approach the winter holiday season.

This risk of fire in our homes increases during the winter months for a number of reasons. Sub-zero temperatures force us to heat our homes with conventional forced air furnaces and supplementary heat sources such as space heaters, wood burning stoves, and fireplaces.

Holiday activities and the hurried pace of the Christmas season can also contribute to increased home fire risks and expose us to a variety of potential injury causing situations.

There were 511 Christmas season fires in Alberta homes during the five-year period 1996 - 2000, killing eight and injuring 84 people, and totaling $18 million worth of property damage. Fire losses during the Christmas period (December 15 - 31) were higher when compared with the rest of the year as follows:

• fires (up by 39 per cent)
• fire deaths (up by 60 per cent)
• fire injuries (up by 50 per cent) and
• property losses (up by 61 per cent)

The most common home fire causes still prevail during the Christmas period along with an increase in the frequency of fires related to candles (up by 140 percent), home heating (up by 50 percent) and electrical sources (up by 22 per cent) The Alberta Fire Commissioners Office reports show that there was only one reported fire in five years related to Christmas trees. It occurred in a natural tree and was caused by a candle.

Figures dispel the myth that most fires during the holidays are the result of fires in Christmas trees. It is quite possible that many years of promoting Christmas tree safety, together with technical improvements, may have contributed to the rarity of these fires. These safety practices with Christmas trees must obviously continue.

During the holiday season, candle fires increased by 140 per cent; home heating fires increased by 50 percent; and electrical fires by 22 per cent.

The eight fire deaths during the Christmas seasons of 1996 - 2000 were all adults (six men and two women), who died in separate fires. The causes of four of these fatal fires are unknown. Two fire deaths were from careless smoking that ignited upholstered furniture, or clothing, one was from an electrical short circuit igniting structural materials in a mobile home, and one was from the ignition of gasoline.

The 84 injuries were sustained primarily in fires related to cooking, smoking, home heating, electrical, lighters/matches, candles, flammable/combustible liquid vapors catching fire, and children playing with fire.

Many fires start due to the hurried pace of activities and the attempt to accomplish too many tasks at one time. Both of these factors tax our limited attention span and it is at these times of momentary inattention that the ever-present fires hazards in our homes (which are normally kept under control) have a chance to unleash their fury.

Care and planning and carrying out all activities, with consideration for the ever-present fire hazards, (candles, space heaters, electrical short circuits, stoves, children gaining access to matches or lighters) is essential to enjoy a fire-free holiday season.

COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED TO ENSURE THEY HAVE WORKING SMOKE ALARMS AND A WELL-REHERSED HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN IN CASE A FIRE BREAKS OUT IN THEIR HOMES.