DISTRICT OF North
Vancouver Fire Services
-wishes everyone a_ happy
and safe holiday season.

HOT TIPS

“by North Vancouver
_ District Fire Department

: Along. with the fun and excite-
“ment of Christmas come special

fire dangers.
We ali love a beautifully lit tree,

festive: candles and Christmas
lights:

7 ALL -the. “fun and decorations of:
«the ‘season ‘can. bring tts: holiday -
“cheer. only: if we know how to-use

‘them’ safely, 23.
w How safe “are your, home’ and
‘ family from fire? s.. +.
Read, the, following: checklist to
; see if there -are fire, dangers in
“your home. -

Chiistraas Trees

tree; ‘stand : ‘should - hold

© Check the. water every day

heat ep the These ‘include wood
Stoves,*: (ireplaces, furnace vents, “

and heaters.”

f2 maar too dose to. a’ source. o

[s} Vesti heat: ory ary: Tee: can even

blocking an ‘exit. It ‘should ‘not be:
placed ‘in ‘front of a ‘door, or in ‘an.
hi : r

‘before you ‘put them ona”.

trees With Merb lights ; unplugged,

'yclamen sd dloxinie'k have’
iaree tubers and ‘ ‘can be dried off:
econd : :

x Custom built: ost ie
organizer with or: ° pre
without ¢ drawers:

installed ©)":
-Do-it yourself.

+ Mirror Doors
‘Melamine finish -

¢ ElfaBaskets —
Wire shelving .

. ‘Accessories

HOME & GARDEN
in decorations safely over holidays

cracked or broken? Is the plug
damaged?

Sf you find any of these prob-
lems, the set of lights shoud be
thrown away and not used.

Tree lights should be used only
on real or plastic trees. Never put
electrical lights on a metal tree.
Use a spotlight instead.

Be sure that you can easily
reach the plug for your tree lights.
There. should be no. danger “of
knocking the tree over when. plug-
ging and unplugging the lights. «

Never leave the lights on for
long periods of time.

Also, be sure to unplug the
lights before you leave your house
or when you go to bed.

Af you have more than one

‘string of lights, only heavy-duty
extension cords should be used.

All’ presents under the tree
should be kept-away from lights.
Check for needles falling from

the tree. If you find a tot of dry
— needles,

it is probably time. to
remove your tree.
You can also break off a small

. branch to test dryness. If it breaks

easily on the tree, it is-a sign that
the tree is too dry. °

After Christmas, never burn
your:tree in a fireplace or wood
burning stove. A dry tree can ex-
plode into flames. This can cause

‘a chimney or house fire.

‘Candles

"Check all candles in the house.
T hey shoud be placed where they

“won't easily be knocked over.

All candies should be in sturdy,
‘non- flammable holders.

Candles. should be out of reach
of young children and pets.

Be' sure that «all
materials, -
and curtains, are kept well away.

. Cheek the. area above the can-.

“damp soil until they can be. :
replanted in the garden or. potted
for the next year. .

- Virtually all chrysanthemums
are chemically treated to dwarf
them;'so placing them in the
garden will only produce a tall,
spindly plant that blooms after the
rains oz frost comes in the fall. ~~

Roy Jonsson is a horticultural

7 consultant and gardening instruc-

tor on the North Shore. .

; ‘CANADIAN CLOSET.

“"A family. owned business since.1984".

1985 C Crown St. N. Van. 986-4263

flammable.
including . decorations’.

dle, Any paper or plastic decora-
tion overhead will receive constant
heat.

This heat can build up, causing
a fire to start.

Check near the base of the can-
dle for flammable materials, such
as evergreens or paper decora-
tions.

Once the candle burns down,
make sure it cannot come into
contact with this material.

Your family should remember
to always put the candles out be-

fore leaving the room or the

house, or going to bed.

Decorations

Use only flame-resistant deco-
rations. Ask yourself, ‘‘How eas-

_ ily could this catch fire?”’

All lights used outdoors should
have a tag saying that they are
safe to use for outdoor decora-
ting.

Check for any type of decora-
tion that might be blocking an ex-

it. Remember, you should have
two ways out of every room,

Stockings’ should not be hung
near a fireplace that will be used.

Is your home protected by a
smoke detector? Check to see that
the ‘detector has’ working batteries
and test your detector monthly,

District. of North Vancouver
Fire Services wishes you a safe
holiday season. If -you have any
safety concerns, -‘call..the non-
emergency number, 980-7575, or
contact your local fire depa =

STORE CLOSING SALE |
YALETOWN STORE ONLY

All items in the store are reduced by 50 percent. ‘On.
SELECTED ITEMS we will even pay the GST! Hurry in while |
the selection | is at its best. Delivery extra.

“to ores 100 Se en

1680 Mainland Street

at Heimcken

Downtown Vancouver

NO. PHONE CALLS
‘PLEASE