Don’t let your Halloween go up in smoke!

The only fright you should have on Halloween night is from spooky costumes and scary movies – not from a fire. 

When you’re getting ready to go trick-or-treating or stay home and hand out treats, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service is providing safety tips to ensure everyone remains safe while having fun! 

• Choose safer alternatives to traditional candles like battery-operated candles, flashlights and glow sticks to light up your jack-o’-lantern and other Halloween decorations. If you must use candles, never leave them unattended and keep them well away from children, pets and anything that can burn.
• Purchase Halloween costumes (including wigs and props) labelled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. If you’re making props or your own outfit, choose materials that won’t easily ignite and avoid billowing or long trailing features like capes. 
• Keep your home exits clear of decorations to ensure nothing blocks your escape routes in the event of a fire. 
• Make sure children know to “stop, drop and roll” if their clothing does catch fire – stop immediately, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to extinguish flames.
• Remember, extension cords are for temporary use only. Use the right one for the job – there are special extension cords for outdoor use.
• Never overload electrical outlets by plugging in too many plugs – use an approved power bar.
• Test your smoke alarms to make sure they work. This is also a great time to install new batteries. 

For additional fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire. 

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