By Brian McBride
Associate Editor

The Kissimmee Fire Department is trying to go green this holiday season.
No, not environmentally, but instead taking part in the “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign.
The department is displaying large wreaths with green light bulbs at designated fire stations during the month of December. Each time there is a residential fire, firefighters will replace a green bulb on the wreath with a red bulb. The goal is to have no red bulbs at the end of the month.
Kissimmee Fire Lt. Joan Robinson hoped the wreath would serve as a reminder to residents to practice fire safety and prevention this holiday season.
“Sometimes the awareness will lead them to be a little more vigilant,” she said.
This is the third year for the campaign. Last year, it ended with three red bulbs on the wreath, Robinson said.
There’s a number of dangers that could lead to a fire in the home including heating equipment, holiday decoration and candles, Kissimmee fire officials said.
But the top threat? Unattended cooking.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2003-06, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 150,200 home structure fires involving cooking equipment per year. These fires caused an annual average of 500 civilian deaths, 4,660 civilian injuries, and $756 million in direct property damage.
“A lot of people don’t have a lot of experience (when cooking) with fire,” She said. “They turn on the electric (cooking appliances) and get what they need.”
And then, there’s the space heaters.
Space heaters result in far more fires and losses than central heating devices, fire association reports said. On average, between 2004 and 2008, fixed (stationary) and portable space heaters (excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, but including wood stoves) annually accounted for one-third (32 percent) of reported U.S. home heating fires, four out of five (82 percent) associated civilian deaths, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of associated civilian injuries, and half (51 percent) of associated direct property damage.
Some space heater owners make the mistake of putting combustibles too close to the units.
Almost half (49 percent) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February, with most heating equipment fires starting due to a failure to clean equipment (25 percent), placing a heat source too close to combustibles (14 percent), and unclassified mechanical failures or malfunctions (13 percent), fire association reports said. The leading cause of home heating fire deaths (52 percent) was heating equipment being placed too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.
“That’s when we run into trouble when the space heaters start coming out,” Robinson said.
It’s paramount to have working smoke detectors, Robinson said. The Kissimmee Fire Department will check to see if a household has working detectors. The department also has available detectors and will install them.
“If they allow us to come into their home, we will do that,” Robinson said.
As far as the wreaths, firefighters began hanging them last week with “fresh green bulbs,” Robinson said.
“Hopefully, they will stay that way,” she added.
For more information about fire safety, contact the fire department: Osceola County Fire Rescue at 407-742-7000; or KFD Life Safety Hotline at 407-518-2585 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
“The holidays are a time of celebration with friends and family.,” Fire Rescue Chief Richard Collins said in a press release. “Taking the time to ensure safe practices during this holiday season needs to be the number one goal of everyone. Make sure you do your part in keeping your family safe. Please help us in our campaign to ‘Keep the Wreath Green’.”