BFRS pushing the fuse when hanging Christmas lights

On December 8, 2024By Online Niel

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Now that Thanksgiving is over, many people put up the Christmas tree along with decorations and lights.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue want you to put safety first when dealing with wires and lights, as one wrong move could create disaster.

Lt. Catina Williams says you shouldn’t have a ton of lights plugged into an extension cord or outlet because it can overload and overheat, causing sparks or fires.

She encourages you to plug them directly into wall outlets.

“Another thing people need to do before they use those lights, test them,” said Lt. Williams. Make sure there are no burnt out bulbs in it. Make sure there are no frayed wires where you connect it. So those are things that need to be checked before you start using those lights.”

Hanging lights with damaged electrical cords can cause a short circuit that causes a fire.

You also want to avoid using staples, clamps, or nails when hanging lights, as they could create a circuit that generates heat, also causing a house fire. Instead, you should use insulated brackets or plastic roof clips.

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