Minden Hills firefighters will be busy over the holidays educating the public about important fire safety guidelines they should be following through the festive season.
Chief Don Kruger said the department recently launched a ’12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety’ campaign, with staff covering several safety topics in a series of social media releases and in-person demonstrations from Dec. 12 to 23.
“This is a campaign the Ontario Fire Marshal has been running for several years and I have always participated everywhere else I have been chief, as I think public education should be a priority,” said Kruger, who joined the Minden department in summer 2024. “Any time of year is devastating for families to have a fire, but Christmas time is especially sad.”
Already covered so far, Kruger said, are tips and advice around installing holiday lights, tree watering, using candles and decorations, and the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed.
Still to come Dec. 18 are pointers on kitchen safety for children; home fire escape plans Dec. 19; cooking Dec. 20; heating sources Dec. 21; smoking Dec. 22; and lithium-ion batteries Dec. 23. Kruger said volunteers have provided personal testimonials for each daily theme, grounding the safety advice in real-life, frontline experience
With OFM data indicating the highest number of residential fire deaths occur between November and January, Kruger feels it’s important that people take notice and keep safety top of mind over the holidays. During the 2024 holiday season, there were 24 fatal residential fires in Ontario, resulting in 26 deaths.
“There are a number of things happening during the holidays that can lead to fires that the campaign touches on – the increased use of extension cords, having the tree inside and forgetting to water them, strings of lights everywhere, and increased consumption of alcohol while cooking,” Kruger said.
“The campaign also includes topics we promote all the time, such as working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, having a home escape plan, and having two ways out always,” he added.
Kruger said all alarms should be tested monthly, batteries replaced annually and the alarms themselves replaced after 10 years of service.
