Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal urges residents to decorate cautiously this fall

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KBSI) – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal urges residents to keep fire safety in mind when decorating for fall and Halloween.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, each year from 2017-2019 an estimated average of 9,200 fires were reported over a 3-day period around Halloween. It caused an estimated annual average of 25 deaths, 100 injuries, and $117 million in property loss.

Decorations started roughly 800 fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). More than two out of five of the fires began because decorations were too close to a heat source.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal provided the following tips to prevent fires this fall season:

• Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns.
• When choosing costumes, avoid long trailing fabric.
• If your children are wearing a costume mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so the child can see out.
• Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.
• Be sure children know how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
• Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Make sure all smoke alarms are working.