‘Keep The Wreath Green’ Fire Safety Campaign Kicks Off Sunday

December 1, 2019

Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with the Pensacola Fire Department, kicks off the annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign Sunday. While a joyous time of year, cold weather, holiday decorations and festivities can create serious fire dangers. Firefighters hope to reduce the number of fires by promoting simple, lifesaving holiday safety tips each day in December.

During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will also be on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also be placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home. In 2018, eight bulbs were changed to red on county wreaths, and the city had two red bulbs.

According to the United States Fire Administration, fires occurring during the winter claim the lives of over 900 people and cause over $2.1 billion in damage. Nationally, cooking is the leading cause of home winter fires, with 5 to 8 p.m. being the most common time for a fire to occur.

A working smoke detector cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. For information about obtaining a home smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.

Pictured below: One of the December 2018 fires in Escambia County was this mobile home fire on Ivey Street in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News