Fire safety for Halloween

1. Use glowsticks or electric candles in your pumpkins.

   Candles start about one-in-three fires during Halloween. Switch up your lighting with flameless alternatives.

2. Make sure decorations don’t block exit paths.

   Move those pumpkins, haystacks, and porch decorations away from the door and any path that you might use in an emergency.

3. Choose the right extension cord for outdoor decorations.

   If you have an inflatable figure or lighting in your yard, make sure you use a cord that’s rated for outdoor use by a nationally recognized testing lab. Don’t use frayed or damaged extension cords.

4. Avoid long fabric when choosing a costume.

   Loose fabric and dangling costume decorations could get caught in flames or hot lights.

5. Be aware at haunted houses.

   They’re required to follow fire and safety codes. They should have smoke alarms, well-marked exits, and a sprinkler system.

Resources

• Staying safe on Halloween (National Fire Protection Agency-NFPA)
• Be Prepared for Halloween Electrical Safety (NFPA)
• Halloween fire data (U.S. Fire Administration)