(Courtesy of Bergenfield FD) The Bergenfield Volunteer Fire Department wishes you and your family a Happy Chanukah. Chanukah is a joyous holiday when family come together. However, the combination of candles and cooking can turn the joy into tragedy. December is the peak time of year for home candle fires, and three of every five home candle fires happen when a candle is placed too close to something that can burn. Lighting the menorah is central to celebrating Chanukah, so here are some rules to help light the menorah safely:
Only use menorahs made from non-flammable materials and avoid using any homemade menorahs as these may not be safe to light. Do not light your child’s art and crafts menorah unless you are 100% sure they are not flammable.
Ensure your menorah is on a stable, non-flammable solid surface.
If you put the menorah on a table, make sure the menorah will not tip over if the table is bumped.
The menorah should be at least 4 feet away from curtains, draperies, blinds, cabinets and bedding.
Keep the menorah high enough that children and pets cannot reach it.
Make sure candles are secure in their holders by using the right sized candle for your menorah and by melting the bottom of the candle to cement it in place. Do not forget the Shamash!
Secure hair and clothing, such as sleeves or aprons, from the flame when handling candles.
Be especially cautious when children are lighting the candles. An adult should always be present to provide support and to intervene if necessary.
Lit menorahs must always be attended.
Extinguish any candles before you go to bed.
Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in 2015-2019 and the second leading cause of home-fire deaths. If you are going to make latkes or other traditional fried foods, please follow these cooking safety tips:
Never fill your pan with too much oil; keep it from getting too hot. It’s a good idea to use an oil with a high burning point.
Never leave the stove top unattended while cooking with oil. If you must turn away or leave, turn off the heat and remove the oil from the hot surface.
Keep paper towels, cutting boards and other combustible material away from the stove.
Keep your pan and pot handles facing the inside of the stove.
Keep kids and pets safe by providing a 3-foot safety zone around the stove.
When done cooking, turn off the heating element and move the pan to a cool location.
If a grease/oil fire should occur here are some steps you can take:
Slide a metal lid, cookie sheet or pan over the fire and leave it in place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside. Only use a metal lid since a glass lid may shatter.
Turn off the stove if it is safe to do so. This will remove the heat source that is feeding the fire.
If it is small and manageable, pour baking soda or salt on it to smother the fire. You may need to use a lot to put out the fire.
Use a class B or K fire extinguisher. Pull the pin, aim the nozzle, squeeze the lever and sweep the flame.
NEVER use water on a grease fire. Water thrown on a grease fire can cause an explosive cloud of steam that will carry droplets of burning oil up and away from the pan, resulting in a massive fireball that can burn you and set your home on fire.
NEVER use baking powder, flour, sugar or any other kitchen ingredients (except baking soda or salt) on a fire. It could be ignited, making matters worse.
NEVER move the pot. You could splash burning oil on yourself, causing severe burns, and you may cause the fire to spread.
NEVER attempt to smother the fire with flammable materials. An apron, dish towel or other flammable fabrics will NOT smother the fire and may fan or spread it.
Here are some other general guidelines to keep you and your family safe all year round:
Create an escape plan and practice it. Developing an easy-to-remember plan can help keep you and your children from harm. Know two ways out from each room and agree on a meeting place outside your home so you will know everyone is out safely.
A home should have smoke alarms on every level, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. For the best protection, interconnect the alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound. Test all smoke alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button. Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
Place carbon monoxide alarms in the immediate vicinity of sleeping areas with at least one on each level of your home.
If you have battery-powered smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, change their batteries twice a year. When you change your clocks for daylight savings is a convenient time to do this.
Make sure your fire extinguishers are readily accessible/visible, charged and operable. There should be at least one on each floor, preferably in easy-to-grab spots, near exits. You should also have one within 10 feet of the kitchen. They all should have a minimum rating of 2A-10B:C (suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment).
If there is a fire:
Do not try to fight the fire yourself.
Get out and stay out. Do not try to gather personal possessions.
Close doors on your way out.
If smoke is present, exit as low to the ground as possible and keep your mouth covered.
Call 911 once you reach a safe location.
If any part of you or your clothing catches fire, do not run or try to put out the fire with your hands. Cover your face with your hands and drop to the ground and roll over and over.
Even on Shabbat or a Yom Tov, if a candle or other ignition source has either started a fire or is about to: EXTINGUISH THE FIRE as soon as possible. Rabbi Neuburger of Congregation Beth Abraham in Bergenfield said, “In a neighborhood such as ours, an uncontrolled fire should be viewed as a possible threat to life and should be extinguished in the quickest and safest manner.”
From all of us at the Bergenfield Volunteer Fire Department, have a safe and happy holiday
