GWGVFD Helps Santa
Visit YOU!

Santa could be visiting your neighborhood on 12/9, 12/10, 12/11, 12/16, 12/17, 12/18 between the hours of 6:00PM & 9:00PM.

If you want Santa to visit your neighborhood with stops for an up close visit please email your request to  santa@gwgvfd.org  

Be sure to include an email address and name so we can contact you. Also give us a phone number to call just prior to his arrival.

Be Safe This Holiday Season

The upcoming holidays and extensive decorating are always fun and festive, but can put your family and home at risk for a fire. Be sure your home is safe during the holidays by practicing safety before, during and after the celebrations.

The use of extension cords when decorating the inside and outside of your home, the use of candles, and the consumption of alcohol are all factors in many home fires during the holiday season. Here are some simple fire precautions that should be taken to help ensure a safe and happy holiday season for you and your family:

Celebrate safely: Whenever possible, use flame-retardant or non-combustible materials when decorating your home or tree. Encourage any smokers to smoke outside of the home and place cigarette butts and ashes in deep, sturdy ashtrays. If allowed to smoke inside the home, check under furniture cushions and near other places people smoke for cigarette butts which may have fallen out of sight.

Decorative lighting: Only use lights with the label of an approved testing lab such as UL or FM, and follow suggested recommendations for their use. Some lights are for indoor use, while others may be used outdoors. Throw away lights which have cracked or frayed cords or loose sockets. Do not overload electrical outlets, and try not to use extension cords. Turn off all decorative lighting when leaving home or going to bed at night. Never use electrical lighting on metal trees. Be aware that many lights only allow for three to five strands to be connected with one another.

Candles: Whenever possible use BATTERY POWERED fake candles!! But if you do use real candles, place them securely in non-tip candle holders. Keep away from Christmas trees, decorations, curtains or any other combustible or flammable materials. Never place real candles in windows or near an exit. Never leave candles unattended or within reach of children or pets. Be sure all candles are extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed.

Heating hazards/fireplaces: Keep the fire in a fireplace small and use a screen or doors to keep sparks from flying into the room. Never leave children or pets alone in a room where a fireplace is actively burning. Never burn paper or trash in a fireplace as embers may float up your chimney and land on your roof or a neighbor’s roof. Remove ashes in a metal container and never store ashes indoors, including your garage. Have your furnace checked and inspected by a qualified contractor at least once a year (before the heating season). Clean as needed or when you may suspect a problem.

Space heaters need a minimum of three feet of clearance away from anything that can burn, such as newspapers, furniture or even walls, and should not be used as a replacement for a permanent heat source such as a furnace. Liquid-fueled heaters are strongly discouraged for indoor use, and are the cause of many fatalities during the winter months.

Christmas trees: The use of live or fresh cut trees versus artificial trees causes an annual debate over which is safest for you and your family. It’s a personal choice that comes with many precautions that must be adhered to regardless of which tree you select.

If using an artificial tree, follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines. A home can be completely filled with smoke within 30 seconds if an artificial tree catches on fire, thus reducing your chances of a successful escape from the home. Always have an escape plan in place and be sure everyone in the home knows this plan.

• Keep ignition sources away from the tree.
• Turn lights off when not at home.
• Keep combustible decorations off the tree (kids’ paper decorations from school, etc.)
• NEVER place candles on a tree.

If using a fresh cut tree, follow these suggestions:

• Make sure there is a fresh cut on the trunk.
• Keep away from fireplaces, heaters, and direct sunlight.
• Check all lights and replace if damaged in any way.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Turn off all lights when away from the house or when going to bed.
• Never place candles on a tree.
• Be aware if children or pets are near the tree
• Check needles and water level every day.

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GWGVFD CELEBRATES 80 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

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