Don’t Let Your Holiday Lights Turn into a Holiday Fright

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Aaron Coleman
  • Grand Forks Air Force Base Fire Department
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Now that Thanksgiving has passed it's time to get into the holiday spirit by dusting off the holiday decorations, setting up the tree and putting that warm winter touch on our homes.

A common mistake many people make is that they don't take the time to make sure their holiday lights are in proper working order. Holiday lights and other decorative lighting with line voltage are involved in an about 160 home structure fires per year. The majority of these fires happened in December and January. Electrical failures or malfunctions were the main factors of the fires involving holiday or decorative lights.

It's cold outside and we want to hurry and get the lights up, but keep these safety tips in mind.
  • Indoors or outside, use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. Use lights that have fused plugs.
  • Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
     
  • Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.
     
  • Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
  • Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
  • Stay away from power or feeder lines leading from utility poles into older homes.
  • Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
  • Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
  • Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on lights - they could unravel and inadvertently wrap around power lines.
  • Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.
In addition to the safety tips previously listed, residents of Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., should comply with the mandatory guidance for electrical lights and wiring from the Grand Forks AFB Instruction 32-2001 provided below.

4.22.4. Electric string lights and wiring shall be UL rated for their intended use and shall be in good condition. If they are to be used outside, they shall be rated for outside use and shall be equipped with GFCI.

4.23.5. Only listed electrical lights and wiring shall be used on combustible vegetation, Christmas trees, and similar decorations.