Tenth Red Bulb Added In County’s Keep The Wreath Green

December 22, 2008

Escambia County has recorded its tenth residential fire since the “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday fire safety campaign began on December 1.

At 4:30 Sunday morning, a fire was reported in the 2300 block of Yonge Street. A neighbor noticed the fire inside the home, called 911 and then woke the occupants. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was located in the living room.

The fire, started by an unattended candle, caused moderate damage to the living room and smoke damage throughout the rest of the structure. There were no working smoke alarms in the home. One occupant was treated for minor injuries on site by Escambia County EMS. The American Red Cross was called to assist the family. Firefighters from West Pensacola, Brent, Osceola, and Myrtle Grove responded to the fire.

Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department will continue the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign throughout the holiday season. This year, the fifth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 22 locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire, a green light bulb is replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.

Some fire safety tips from Escambia Fire Rescue include:

  • Use candles with care. Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Burn candles inside a one foot circle of safety, free of anything that can ignite. Use sturdy candleholders that will not tip over. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
  • According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking, keep an eye on the range. Turn handles on stovetop pots away from the front, so they won’t be tipped over.

If your home does not have a working smoke detector, you can obtain a free one by calling 595-HERO.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News