Fire Service gives safety tips for holidays

With at least five fires in the last month, the National Fire Service has been on high alert. As a means of preventing future blazes, the department has created a pamphlet of safety tips for residents. They recommend not using decorations made of cloth or paper; checking indoor and outdoor lights for frayed wire, loose connections, and cracked sockets; having someone stay up with you when you are baking or cooking at night; wiping grease from the top of the stove and inside the oven after cooking; and always placing candles in a stand or metal or glass container. In the event of a fire, raise the alarm, get everyone out, and call the fire department at 90 and give a proper address of where the fire is and what is burning. The Fire Service says too often Belizeans become caught up by the excitement of the Christmas season and neglect to practice the most basic fire safety.