The Keep the Wreath fire safety awareness campaign has come to a close after the holiday season.
Three fires occurred in Wood County since the campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving, meaning three red bulbs for the wreath hung outside the station. The first was a basement fire at Ho-Chunk Nation in Nekoosa on Dec. 1, the second a mattress fire in Marshfield on Dec. 17, and the third a Christmas Day chimney fire, also in Marshfield.
“While we prefer to see zero fires, the campaign was a ‘success’ compared to previous years. We are thankful for the low number this holiday season,” said Chief Scott Owen, Marshfield Fire & Rescue.
2018 saw a reduction of 63% compared to 2017, when eight fires were recorded. The only other year that saw just three fires was in 2013. In the campaign’s 25 year history, the highest number of fires seen during the holiday season was 20.
More than one-third of home fires occur during the months of December, January, and February. From the proper cooking method for a turkey to the continual watering of a Christmas tree, the safety campaign encourages fire prevention and a safe holiday season.
Keep the Forest Green, a wildfire prevention awareness campaign, begins March 1.
