Fire Safety Tips For Halloween

Nothing accents the atmosphere of a scary Halloween ghost story like the flickering of firelight from a candle or campfire. While we might all enjoy the ambiance, State Fire Marshal, Chief Butch Browning is reminding all Louisiana residents to be safe with candles, bonfires, campfires, and fire pits this Halloween.

Here are some helpful hints the Chief and his staff put together and shared with us at 97.3 The Dawg.

1. Costumes- Make sure you choose a costume that is fire retardant. Also costumes with long flowing or trailing fabric can be especially dangerous around a heater or open flame. Do your children know how to Stop, Drop, and Roll? If they don't teach them and if they do refresh their memory.

2. Decorations- Hay bales, cornstalks, dried flowers and grasses make great Halloween backdrops and wagon decorations. They are very flammable. Be especially careful if these combustibles are on your hayride wagon and people are smoking.

3. Night Lights- It's a good idea to carry a light with you while you roam the streets on Halloween night. It is not a good idea to have light be a candle or lantern with an open flame. Use glow sticks or solar powered lights to make sure you can be seen and your holiday won't go up in smoke.

4.Watch Your Exits- Sometimes we get so excited about decorating our homes and business' for Halloween that we forget to keep the exits clear. A well meaning pumpkin can become a stumbling block in a smokey fire.

If you'd like to learn more ways to help kids learn about fire safety then get to know Sparky The Fire Dog. His website has a lot of kid friendly activities and some great information for the whole family.