Oak Park Apartments would like to remind tenants of some practical fire prevention tips to follow to ensure your safety during the holiday season:
- Fake or Fresh? Purchase manufacturer certified fire-retardant artificial trees, wreaths or garland. If you are choosing a fresh tree, make sure the needles don’t fall off when touched. Before placing your tree in the stand, make a fresh cut of an additional 1-2” from the base of the trunk. Watering the tree daily will keep your tree fresh.
- Make sure the tree, be it fake or fresh is not blocking radiators or any heat source.
- Only buy holiday lights that have been safety tested.
- Replace holiday lights that have worn, frayed or broken cords.
- Remember to turn all holiday lights off when you leave your apartment or before you go to bed. Better yet, put them on a timer so it is automatic.
- Do not connect too many strings of lights together.
- Candles, electricity, dryers and cooking are the causes of most fires so by substituting battery operated candles for the real deal you will reduce the risk of a fire.
- Test your smoke detector and change the batteries when needed.
- Do not overload your electrical outlets, instead plug multiple chords into a surge protector.
- Do not place electrical chords under rugs. Walking on electrical chords can damage the chord and cause a fire.
- Space heaters, any time of the year, are a danger. If you are not getting adequate heat in your apartment please call management.
- Prevention is key but it also makes sense to establish a fire escape plan.
