As you prepare for Halloween, the Bullhead City Fire Department urges citizens to keep fire safety in mind.

• According to NFPA, between 2015 and 2019, an average of 790 home structure fires began with decorations per year. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries, and $13 million in direct property damage.
• More than two of every five (44%) of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment.
• Candles started more than one-third (35%) of these fires.

Our goal is to educate all citizens to know where potential fire risks exist by following these simple safety tips below:

• Candles ~ Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks in your jack-o-lanterns
• Costumes ~ Stay away from long or flowing fabric
• Decorations ~ avoid flammable decorations and keep decorations away from open flames and other heat sources.
• Exits ~ remember to keep all decorations away from doors to avoid blocking any exits or escape routes.
• Smoke alarms ~ Make sure all of your smoke alarms are working and up to date
• Be visible ~ have children use flashlights or glow sticks as part of their costumes.
• Pedestrians safely ~ cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks, and watch for turning or backing up vehicles.
• Candy check ~ always check through your child’s candy before consuming.