State Fire Marshal Lists Safety Tips for Halloween Trick or Treat

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(Columbus) – As families across Ohio prepare for Halloween festivities, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal is urging ghosts, goblins and super heroes to prioritize fire safety while celebrating the spooky season. With increased use of candles, decorations, and costumes, Halloween presents unique fire hazards that require special attention.

Halloween ranks among one of the top days for home fires in the nation. Decorations are involved in roughly 830 home structure fires annually, with nearly half of those occurring due to decorations being placed too close to heat sources. In Ohio, dozens of home fires occur around Halloween each year, many of which could have been prevented had some simple precautions been taken. 

“Halloween should be a time of joy, imagination, and safe fun for families across Ohio,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “By taking just a few simple fire safety precautions—like choosing flame-resistant costumes and using battery-operated candles—Ohioans can help ensure their celebrations are memorable for all the right reasons. Let’s keep the scares on the screen and out of our homes.”

To help keep Ohioans and their homes safe this Halloween, the Division offers the following fire safety tips:

Decorations

• Keep all decorations, especially those made of flammable materials, away from heat sources. 
• Use battery-operated candles or LED lights instead of real candles in jack-o’-lanterns and other light-up decorations.
• Ensure all electrical decorations are UL-listed and in good condition, including the power cords.
• Check that extension cords are not overloaded or running under rugs.

Costumes 

• Choose flame-resistant costumes and accessories. 
• Avoid loose-fitting garments that could easily catch fire if they come into contact with a flame.
• Add reflective tape to costumes and carry flashlights or glowsticks so others can see you in the dark.

Trick-or-Treating Safety

• Ensure walkways and porches are well-lit and free of debris. 
• Replace any burnt-out bulbs in outdoor lighting fixtures. 
• Keep carved pumpkins and decorations off walkways and stairs to avoid trip hazards.

The Division also reminds families that properly working smoke alarms are a critical tool to protect you and your family from a fire any time of year. To maximize your home’s safety, Ohioans are encouraged to complete the following three steps to ensure smoke alarms are in proper working order: 

1. Replace batteries in all smoke alarms in the home. Some smoke alarms have sealed batteries that are good for 10 years and should not be replaced. 
2. Test alarms to make sure they are properly sounding. This can be done by pressing the alarm’s test button. 
3. Mark sure alarms have not exceeded their expiration date. These dates can be found on the back panel of the alarm where the date of manufacture is displayed. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. 

Ohioans can find more fire safety information and resources by visiting com.ohio.gov/fire.