Avoid holiday disaster — Rock Springs Fire Department offers fire safety tips

ROCK SPRINGS — People can prevent having their holiday plans go up in flames with a few tips from the Rock Springs Fire Department.

Numerous fires have started in the kitchen, according to RSFD Chief Jim Wamsley. Wamsley said 44% of all structure fires are from cooking, and 42% of all fire injuries in the home are caused by cooking fires. Wamsley also noted 20% of all home fire fatalities are the result of cooking fires.

“Never leave a pot unattended  — ever,” Wamsley said. “It is very easy to lose track of the last time you checked the stove. The best case is that your food burns; the worst case is that the burning food spreads to the room, contents and extends to the structure.”

Wamsley suggests that if a fire starts in a pan, cover it with a lid, if possible, exit the home and call 911.

“Don’t endanger yourself by getting too close to the fire as it can spread easily,” he warned. “Never throw water on a grease fire — this will cause the fire to grow exponentially and very likely catch you on fire in the process.”

Candles

Candles can set the holiday tone, but a fire can ruin the mood quickly.

Wamsley advises using electric candles or a wax-melting device that diffuses the scent into the room.

“All candles are an open ignition source when lit — 100% of the time,” he said. “Never leave a candle burning in an unoccupied room.”

He expressed the importance in keeping the candle away from all combustibles and particularly curtains or other billowy items.

“It might catch the breeze from an open window or door and drift into the flame, resulting in a fire,” he said.

Electrical decorations

Some folks can’t wait to get a tree out and decorate it after Thanksgiving dinner. Wamsley suggests residents not use cheap decorations, though. 

The chief advises home owners and business owners to use quality decorations and extension cords by looking for a “UL” listing and making sure that they are in good condition.

“If there are any nicks or cracks in the cords, it is better to toss them than risk the hazard of electrical shock or a fire,” he said. “Also, do not overload the electrical circuit — most 15-amp circuits should have no more than eight things plugged in at a time.”

Do not “stack” power strips — this can cause them to overheat and result in a fire, he said, noting all electrical decorations should be placed away from combustibles to avoid the possibility of a fire from hot bulbs or other surfaces.

Christmas trees

Some people prefer real trees, while others choose artificial ones.

Purchasing “live” trees locally or cutting one down by the family and artificial trees are the best options, Wamsley said. If people want to choose a “live” tree, they should choose one that is still limber and shows no sign of having dried out.

“This gives the best option for remaining wet through the Christmas season,” he said. “Keep the tree watered until it’s taken down, and check the condition of the tree daily.”

The tree should be inspected regularly for needles falling out and dry, brittle branches.

“The smaller branches will dry out the soonest, so pay particular attention to them,” he said. “If the tree becomes dry and brittle, it should be removed from the home.”

As far as artificial trees, they are “safer since they do not dry out,” Wamsley said. 

Many come pre-wired with lights. Check the condition of the lights when assembling the tree. Look for cracks and breaks in the insulation, and if found, do not use the lighting incorporated with the tree.

“Purchase lights separate from the tree and use those instead,” said Wamsley.

Decorating safely

Wamsley hopes those who decorate for Christmas will carefully evaluate lights before using them.

As with the pre-wired lights on an artificial tree, make sure to check all lighting before placing it on the tree or hanging it on the home, he said. Look for cracks or breaks in the wire insulation — the plastic that covers the wires. Check for any brittle spots on the wires and any places on the insulation that appear to have been hot; this is indicated by discoloration and brittleness. If any of those conditions are found, throw the entire string away.

Wamsley also hopes no one decorates on his own.

“Make sure to have help when decorating the tree with lights. Two are much safer than one, and it’s easy to get tangled up and lose your balance with all those cords,” he suggested. “When using a ladder, either inside or out, make sure that the ladder is on an even, dry surface.”

When hanging lights outside from a ladder, keep your body inside of the side rails. It’s also advisable to have someone “heel” the ladder by standing between it and the house while holding onto it to keep it from sliding away from the building.

This story was published on Dec. 3, 2025.