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Decorating for Halloween and the Holiday season

During Halloween and the Holiday period, the candles, decorative lights and illuminated inflatable decorations you use considerably increase fire hazards. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) wishes to remind you of some basic safety rules.

  • Make sure your decorations, Christmas light garlands and outdoor lights have a certification seal.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for indoor or outdoor use of materials.
  • Don’t overload the circuits.
  • Never leave a lit tree without supervision.
  • Be careful with illuminated inflatable decorations.

If you decorate with a natural tree, you must take certain precautionary measures:

  • Choose a freshly cut tree. The needles must not fall off easily.
  • Cut the base of the trunk tapered, then place the tree in a recipient full of water.
  • Do not let your tree lit and unattended. In other words, turn off the chaser lights when you go to bed and before you go out.
  • Never buy and decorate your tree several weeks in advance. Not only by the time the holidays come in full swing, will the tree have seen better days, but it will also become a serious potential fire hazard.

If you opt for an artificial tree made of metallic material, do not decorate it with any electrical light sets.

Safe use of heating appliances

The holiday season is the perfect occasion to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, so you light up the fireplace, put some candles on the table and - why not? – take out the traditional fondue set. Here are some piece of advice so that you use your appliances safely and avoid fire hazard.

  • Chimney sweeping: Clean your chimney at least yearly.
  • Elimination of ashes: Remove the ashes from a fireplace or a solid fuel-fired equipment, store them outside of the house, away from all combustible surface (walls made of vinyl or wood, wooden patio, garden house, etc.).
  • Candles: Make sure all candles are placed firmly inside recipients large enough to contain the spills. Do not forget to blow the candles out when the party is over. Be cautious with the centerpieces where candles are placed alongside other flammable items such as party hats, branches, ribbons, etc.
  • Fondue warmers: Never add liquid fuel in the burner if it has just been used, even if no flame is visible. Have some additional burners handy to use if you cannot wait for it to get completely cold.

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