Halloween Safety
Keep Halloween fun and safe with simple precautions for costumes, decorations, candles and trick-or-treating.
Keep Halloween spooky — not dangerous.
Costumes, decorations and jack-o’-lanterns are part of Halloween fun, but many of those same items can create fire and burn hazards.
A little planning can help keep children visible, escape routes clear and open flames away from anything that can burn.
Before Trick-or-Treating Begins
Make costumes easy to see, easy to move in and less likely to come into contact with flames or heat.
Be Easy to See
Choose bright or reflective costume elements and give children flashlights or glow sticks when trick-or-treating after dark.
Choose Costumes Carefully
Avoid long, trailing fabric that could come into contact with candles, heaters or other ignition sources.
Supervise Young Children
Keep younger trick-or-treaters supervised and teach children to stay away from candles, fire pits and other open flames.
Decorate without blocking your way out.
Halloween decorations can create hazards when they are placed near heat sources or allowed to obstruct doors, stairs and other escape routes.
Make sure children know: Stop, Drop and Roll.
If clothing catches fire, stop immediately, drop to the ground, cover the face and roll until the flames are out.
Halloween Safety
Watch Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Halloween safety video for a few quick reminders before heading out for the evening.
Candle Safety
Enjoy candles safely by keeping flames away from anything that can burn and never leaving a burning candle unattended.
A candle is still an open flame.
Candles can help create a relaxing atmosphere, mark a celebration or be an important part of personal and cultural traditions.
But anything with an open flame can start a fire. Safe placement, constant supervision and proper extinguishing are essential whenever candles are used.
Four Rules for Candle Safety
If you choose to use a real candle, give the flame the space and attention it requires.
Stay With the Flame
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Blow it out whenever you leave the room or your home.
Keep a Clear Zone
Keep candles at least 30 centimetres — 12 inches — away from curtains, decorations, paper, clothing and anything else that can burn.
Use a Stable Holder
Place candles in sturdy holders on stable surfaces where they cannot easily be knocked or tipped over.
Keep Children & Pets Away
Place lit candles where children and pets cannot reach, touch or accidentally knock them over.
Give every candle a clear safety zone.
Keep a minimum of 30 centimetres — approximately 12 inches — between a candle flame and anything that can burn. Pay particular attention to curtains, decorations, books, paper and other lightweight materials that can move toward the flame.
Consider a flameless candle.
Battery-operated candles can provide the look and atmosphere of a candle without introducing an open flame into your home.
Don’t use candles for emergency lighting.
During a power outage, use flashlights or other battery-powered lighting rather than candles. Never use an open-flame candle where medical oxygen is being used.
Candle Safety
Watch this short Richmond Fire-Rescue video for practical reminders about safely using candles in your home.
Festive Decorations
Celebrate safely by keeping decorations away from heat sources, checking lights for damage and choosing flame-resistant materials.
Make fire safety part of your holiday decorating.
Lights, trees and seasonal decorations can transform a home during the holidays — but they can also introduce additional heat, electrical and fire hazards.
Choose decorations carefully, keep them away from heat sources, inspect electrical decorations before use and never allow holiday displays to block your way out of the home.
Decorate With Fire Safety in Mind
A few simple choices can reduce the risk created by seasonal decorations throughout your home.
Choose Safer Decorations
Choose decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant whenever possible.
Keep Away From Heat
Keep decorations away from candles, fireplaces, heaters and other sources of heat or open flame.
Keep Exits Clear
Never place decorations where they block doors, windows, stairs or other escape routes.
A fresh tree needs water and space.
A dry Christmas tree can ignite quickly and burn intensely. Keep natural trees watered and give every tree plenty of space from sources of heat.
Keep your Christmas tree at least one metre from heat.
Maintain approximately three feet — one metre — of clearance between the tree and fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles, heat vents and other heat sources.
Check your lights before you plug them in.
Damaged electrical decorations can create a fire or shock hazard. Inspect holiday lighting every year before it goes up.
Walk your escape routes.
Make sure trees, gifts, cords and decorations have not blocked doors, windows, hallways or stairs. Keep all exits clear and make sure the smoke alarms in your home are working.
Fireworks Safety
Celebrate safely and know the rules — fireworks are illegal in Richmond unless authorized by permit.
Leave fireworks to trained professionals.
Fireworks can cause serious burns, injuries and fires when they are handled improperly.
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch a professionally organized display rather than attempting to use fireworks yourself.
Professional fireworks and pyrotechnic displays require approval from Richmond Fire-Rescue and must be conducted by appropriately licensed professionals.
Celebrate Without the Risk
You don’t need to handle fireworks yourself to enjoy a great display.
Don’t Use Fireworks at Home
Do not purchase, possess or light fireworks for personal use in Richmond.
Choose Professional Events
If you want to enjoy fireworks, attend an organized display operated by trained and licensed professionals.
Supervise Children
Keep children closely supervised around any event where fireworks or sparklers may be present.
Sparklers aren’t harmless toys.
Sparklers burn at very high temperatures and can cause serious burns. Children should never be left unsupervised around sparklers or other pyrotechnic devices.
Fireworks Safety
Watch Richmond Fire-Rescue’s fireworks safety video.
Planning a permitted fireworks display?
Richmond Fire-Rescue manages permits for professional fireworks, pyrotechnic displays and special effects within Richmond.
Fireworks Permit Information