SAFETY INFORMATION FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

The following was posted by Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine and Sonora Fire Fighter of the Year, Neil Gamez on the Mi Wuk Fire Protection District FaceBook home page.  Just put Mi Wuk Sugar Pine F.P.D in the FB search box and click to "add as a friend".  Neil is always posting good information for all of our benefits.

If you are thinking of burning gift wrap paper, ribbons, cardboard boxes, scrap lumber in your fireplace DON'T. 

Christmas tree can create excessively large and hot fires, which can damage fireplaces and chimneys—or suddenly flare out of control. Each year, people lose their homes to these unexpected, fast-moving fires. 

Burning improper items can also create embers that bypass missing or damaged spark arresters. These embers cause roof and attic fires that can destroy your home and everything in it. Burning improper items in a fireplace can also create fumes that make people ill and harm the environment, according to the fire department. 

The winter holiday season is also time to pay special attention and care to the lighting, placement and disposal of candles. Leaving lit candles inside a home packed with flammable items and holiday decorations is an invitation to disaster. Anyone or anything can knock over a candle—including a pet, a wayward toy, or a distracted adult.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone.  Be safe.  Ask for snow for Christmas (yeah, really).