JAMAICA FIRE BRIGADE URGES SAFE USE OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
KINGSTON, December 11 (JIS):
The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is reminding citizens to exercise caution when installing and using Christmas lights, in order to reduce the risk of fires during the festive season.
Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on December 9, Public Education Officer at the JFB, Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, outlined several precautions that citizens should practise to ensure the safe usage of Christmas lights.
“The situation with Christmas lights is that they have a plug-in…; what that does is, if you’re not careful, it leads to overloading of a circuit. No more than three sets of lights should be plugged in at any time into one socket,” he said.
Superintendent Ebanks further emphasised that householders should carefully follow manufacturers’ specifications when installing and using the lights.
“Indoor lights are not suited for outdoors. The indoor lights do not have the kind of protection to [safeguard] against the elements, the rain especially… and those can cause short circuiting of your electrical systems, which can start a fire,” he explained.
The JFB Public Education Officer also indicated that householders should observe additional precautions when using lights indoors.
“If you are plugging those lights inside, for example, and you are stringing them around a tree, you need to make sure that the tree is one that can manage the heat that is coming from the bulbs that you will be wrapping around them,” Superintendent Ebanks said.
He noted that older-style bulbs produce more heat, which increases the risk of fire. In contrast, newer LED-type bulbs generate significantly less heat and are, therefore, generally safer for household use.
Superintendent Ebanks further emphasised that Christmas lights should never be left unattended.
“The lights are for your enjoyment. If you are leaving the space, unplug the lights. You don’t want a situation where something starts and nobody is there to see what’s happening,” he said.
Superintendent Ebanks added that if no detection device is installed in a space and a fire starts, householders may only be awakened after the situation has already gotten out of control.
He also advises that anyone using a natural Christmas tree should place it in a stand with water to maintain its moisture and prevent it from drying out too quickly.
