City 'Keep the Wreath Green' Fire Safety Campaign Ends with One Red Bulb

The Pensacola Fire Department ended its annual "Keep the Wreath Green" Fire Safety Campaign with one red bulb, representing one residential house fire in the City of Pensacola during the month of December. 

The annual campaign is a partnership with Escambia County Fire Rescue, with a goal of reducing the number of fires by promoting simple, life-saving holiday safety tips each day in December.

During the month-long campaign, 5-foot wreaths were on display at five city fire stations and 21 county fire stations. Wreaths were also placed outside Escambia County's Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters responded to a residential fire with damage in the City of Pensacola, a green bulb was replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential homes. In Escambia County, a red bulb was placed on the wreath for residential and commercial structure fires. 

For the first time since the campaign began, the Pensacola Fire Department ended the 2021 "Keep the Wreath Green" Fire Safety Campaign with zero red bulbs. In 2020, three bulbs were changed to red on city wreaths, in 2019, one bulb was changed to red, and in 2018, two bulbs were changed to red.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half (45%) of home Christmas tree fires. Two of every five (42%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room. One of every five (22%) decoration fires were due to some type of heat source, such as a candle or space heater, too close to the tree. The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. 

According to the United States Fire Administration, fires occurring during the winter claim the lives of over 900 people and cause over $2.1 billion in damage. Nationally, cooking is the leading cause of home winter fires, with 5-8 p.m. being the most common time for a fire to occur. A working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Additionally, practice space heater safety and know the potential risks associated with home heating equipment. 

City of Pensacola residents are encouraged to call the Pensacola Fire Department at 850-436-5200 for smoke alarm assistance. County residents may call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376).

For fire safety tips and other updates from the Pensacola Fire Department, like Pensacola Fire Department on Facebook.

Pensacola Fire Department and Escambia County Fire Rescue remind residents to stay safe all year long by following these tips:

- Have a working smoke detector in every room of your home. If your home doesn't have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.

- Close your bedroom door at night when you sleep. In case of fire, a closed door can isolate the fire’s flow, reduce room temperature and keep carbon monoxide levels down.

- Have an escape plan and know two ways out of every room in your home. 

- Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the room, turn the stove off first. 

- Don’t overload extension cords or wall outlets. Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.

For Escambia County's 'Keep the Wreath Green' Fire Safety Campaign results, click here.