GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Metro Fire Department's Holiday Wreath Program is over, with nine home fires recorded during the program's time period.
The Holiday Wreath Program is a public awareness campaign to remind people of fire safety in the home. Christmas wreaths are hung on all the fire stations and are initially lit with all green lights. For every home fire that happens during the holiday season, one light will be changed to red.
Between November 22th and January 1st, Metro Fire says five fires were caused by unattended cooking, two were garage fires, one fire was arson, and another fire was labeled, "undetermined".
Since the majority of these fires were cooking fires, Metro Fire is reminding the public about cooking safety. Homeowners are asked to stay in the kitchen while cooking, turning the stove heat to low if you have to walk away, and make sure your smoke alarm is working.
Another major cause of fires during the winter is heating equipment. Metro Fire says you should have your furnaces and/or chimneys inspected and place a CO detector in your home.
