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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Taking Down Christmas Trees 

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

Taking down the Christmas tree isn’t nearly as much fun as putting it up. But the longer a tree stays up, the greater a fire hazard it becomes. All Christmas trees can burn, but a dried-out tree can become engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds. In a year where many people began decorating their homes earlier than usual, trees have been in homes longer than usual, presenting an increased risk of fire as the days go by. 

When Christmas is over or the tree begins to drop needles, dispose of it. 
Do not leave it in the house or store it in the garage. 
Never burn a tree in the fireplace or wood stove. 
To dispose of your tree, it can be taken to the Steve Benko pool in Waveny Park through Jan. 12 where it will be recycled and used to resurface the trails at the Nature Center.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Make Your Thanksgiving Dinner Safer

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]
From stuffing to brining to leftovers, everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving turkey menu. As you plan your holiday meal, follow these turkey tips from the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s office. They will help you keep your Thanksgiving dinner delicious and safe. Cooking is the biggest cause of home fires and fire injuries, and Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. So there’s no better time to focus on safety.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Fireplace Safety

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New Canaan has experienced two brush fires in the past week due to improper disposal of fireplace ashes. With all of Connecticut being under “Extreme Fire Risk,” it is important that we properly dispose of fireplace embers/ashes. The following are some useful fireplace safety tips as we move into the fall and winter fireplace season:

Ashes may contain hot embers for several days.  If cleaning is required, always use a metal ash bucket with a tight sealing lid. These buckets are available at most hardware or home improvement stores. Place the bucket away from the house and other combustible material for several days before disposing.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Carbon Monoxide Safety

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More than 150 people in the U.S. die every year from accidental non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide or CO is a colorless and odorless gas. CO poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine, such as a furnace, heater or generator, is not working or vented properly. Breathing in CO at high levels can be fatal. Learn what you can do to protect your family from the dangers of CO:

Install and maintain CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of CO.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Halloween Safety Tips

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Halloween is a fun and spooky time of year for kids. Make trick-or-treating safe for your children with a few easy safety tips:

When choosing a costume stay away from long, trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see out. 
Provide children with flashlights to carry or use glow sticks as part of their costume. 
Dried flowers, corn stalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and heat sources like light bulbs and heaters. 
Use a battery operated candle or glow stick in pumpkins. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution.