An illuminated wreath at Chapel Hill fire station on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard is keeping score on residential fire safety this holiday season.
“What we do is, we hang a wreath on Fire Station 1 on MLK Boulevard,” said Chapel Hill Fire Marshal Todd Iager. “And we start the season off Dec. 1. It runs through New Year’s Day. We keep green lights in that wreath. And the goal is to keep it green.”
Iager further explained that for every residential fire in Chapel Hill during the holiday season, a green bulb is replaced with a red one.
“Keep the Wreath Green,” as it’s called, is an annual initiative of the Chapel Hill Fire Department.
And it seems to be working. The program had existed for a decade. During a few of those holiday seasons, Chapel Hill, did, indeed, “Keep the Wreath Green.”
“It is a fantastic public service announcement program,” said Iager, “and they followed that up with all the tree farms getting a tag for each tree.”
Iager was referring to locally farmed Christmas trees being tagged with safety tips for consumers.
The reasons for increased fire hazards during the holidays are obvious. Houses are full of decorations, candles, lights, trees, and there’s paper and plastic everywhere.
“Candles are a big ignition source for fires in the home around the holidays,” said Iager. “So we have to be really, really careful with candles. So when you leave the room, when you leave the house, blow the candles out.”
First and foremost, said Iager, people should make sure they have proper smoke detectors in every level of their home, inside and outside of bedrooms.
Residents need to work out a fire escape plan for themselves, Iager added.
“Most importantly, like game day in football or basketball, you play like you practice,” he said. “So make sure you’re practicing these plans, OK?”
Iager urged adults to keep kids at least three feet away from the stove while the holiday dinner is being cooked; and to never leave a hot stove unattended.
Here is a complete list of holiday fire safety tips from the Chapel Hill Fire Department.
Related Stories
‹
Brush Fire Contained, But Still Burning in Carolina North Forest; Officials Warn of Smoky ConditionsA brush fire in the Carolina North Forest just south of Seawell Elementary School continues to burn and smolder on Thursday morning, causing smoky conditions across Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Updates from fire officials said the fire, which began Wednesday afternoon and firefighters responded to just before 4:30 p.m., is contained after an overnight effort […]
House Fire Closes Part of Chapel Hill Road; 8 People DisplacedAn alert shared by the Town of Chapel Hill at 5:28 p.m. said Erwin Road from River Birch Lane to Sage Road is closed because of a house fire.
Victim Identified in Chapel Hill House Fire; Investigation Into Cause Still OngoingThe Chapel Hill Fire Department said one person died in a house fire on the corner of Redbud Lane and Honeysuckle Road Monday morning.
No Tax Increases and Increased Spending Featured in Chapel Hill Staff's Proposed FY27 BudgetFollowing a year with improved revenues and a new town manager at the helm, the Town of Chapel Hill may go into the next fiscal year without a tax increase or significant cuts.
Chapel Hill Duplex Fire Displaces Eight, No Injuries ReportedThe Chapel Hill Fire Department responded to a duplex fire Saturday morning, which it said displaced eight people.
Chapel Hill: UNC Visitors Center Evacuated Due to Gas LeakThe UNC Visitors Center, located at 134 East Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Chapel Hill Fire Department initially responded to a report of the leak at 2:54 p.m., then began evacuating the building upon its arrival. A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas, which provides natural […]
Top Stories Of 2025: Fires Close Doors of Chapel Hill, Carrboro BusinessesOver the course of 2025, fires impacted a handful of the community's beloved small businesses and institutions.
After Chapel Hill Fire Investigation, Report Reveals Siena Hotel Fire DetailsThe Chapel Hill Fire Department recently provided additional insight into the August fire at the Siena Hotel via a detailed incident report.
Fire in Townhome Displaces 4 Chapel Hill Residents; No Injuries ReportedA fire at a townhome building in Chapel Hill sent firefighters rushing to the blaze and left four residents displaced on Thursday evening.
Crash and Vehicle Fire Briefly Close E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill; 2 InjuredA crash in a residential area of East Franklin Street briefly closed the road and led to a vehicle fire, according to the Town of Chapel Hill.
›
