RCFD has tips for a fun and fire-safe Halloween

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Fire Department has some tips on how to decorate safely for Halloween – and the holiday season in general.

With Halloween coming this weekend, decorations are already out – but there’s some things you can do to ensure your spooky time doesn’t get too scary – or dangerous.

Make sure decorations – especially those made of paper – are kept far from open flames or sources of heat.

Keep exits clear so you always have a way out, and always try to use battery-operated candles instead of the real thing.

Decorations are the first thing that ignites in around 800 home fires each year, and more than a third of those are started by a candle.

Each year from 2017 through 2019, there was an average of 9,200 fires in the three days around Halloween. Those fires causing – on average – 25 deaths, 100 injuries, and around $117 million in property loss.

“Candles are very dangerous, of course, that’s a good source for a fire to start, so using those other alternative methods of lighting up your pumpkins are good,” says Division Chief Brian Povandra with the Rapid City Fire Department.

Povandra says it’s a busy time of year for the fire department and anything you can do to be fire-wise is helpful.