Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Preventing Winter Fires
Holiday Festivals, Open House, Bazaar, Parlour Tour, Concerts, Light Displays and more in #STL City
This article is 10 years old. It was published on December 11, 2014.
Preventing Winter Fires
The holidays may be the "most wonderful time of the year," but it's also when accidental fires are most likely. While traditional heating fuels and utilities are available, some St. Louisans opt for alternate sources for home heating. The use of a wood-burning stove, space heater or fireplace can be a contributing factor in a residential fire. Following are a number of fire safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration to help you maintain a fire safe home this winter:
- Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane, for example) can produce deadly fumes.
- Be sure the fireplace or wood stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (36") from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection.
- Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.
- Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
- Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out and unwanted material from going in.
- Don't use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces.
- Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
- Have your furnace inspected to ensure that it is in good working condition.
- Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 13 – Holidays in
Old North Festival & Craft Market, 14th & Montgomery,
Old North St. Louis Restoration Group is inviting everyone
to stop by the 4th Annual
Holidays in Old North Festival &Craft Market this Saturday from
Dec. 13 – Holiday Market, City Garden Montessori School,
The Tower Grove Farmers' Market will hold a Holiday Market this Saturday from
Dec. 13 – Holiday Open House, Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658 Delmar,
The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site will hold an
informational meeting and celebrate holiday traditions from the late 1900s this
Saturday from
Dec. 13 – Urban
League Guild of Metropolitan St. Louis Holiday Bazaar, Vashon High School,
Just in time for holiday shopping, the Urban League Guild of
Metropolitan St. Louis will present its annual Holiday Bazaar this Saturday from
Dec. 13 – Downtown Dutchtown Holiday Shop Hop, On and around Meramec Street, South Grand, Virginia & Bates, During regular store hours
The Downtown
Dutchtown Holiday Shop Hop will take place this Saturday on and around
Dec. 13 – St. Louis Classic Viewing Party, Steinberg Skating
Rink,
The St. Louis Classic
road game between the St. Louis Blues and the Colorado Avalanche at Denver
will be broadcast live from Steinberg Rink in Forest Park
this Saturday beginning at
Dec. 14 – Lafayette
Square Holiday Parlor Tour, starts at Park House,
The Lafayette Square Restoration Committee will present the Lafayette Square Taste of the Holidays
House and Parlour Tour this Sunday from
Dec. 14 – Hot
Chocolate 15K/5K, Downtown,
The Hot Chocolate Run
is headed back to beautiful Downtown St. Louis this Sunday. Enjoy an unforgettable run through the home
of the Cardinals and reward yourself with piles of rich, melty chocolate at the
finish line. This year, organizers have
added a finisher's medal for 15K participants. The festivities will begin at
Dec. 14 – Gateway
Ringers Holiday Handbell Concert, Messiah Lutheran Church,
Join the Gateway Ringers for a free Holiday Handbell Concert this Sunday from
Dec. 17 – DT2's
Annual Holiday Party, The Liermann Loft,
The annual Downtown
Dutchtown Business Association Holiday Party & Membership Drive will
take place this coming Wednesday, Dec. 17 from
Now through Dec. 31 – Holiday Magic, St. Louis Union Station
Whether you have tickets for The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride or not, exciting Holiday Magic events and activities at St. Louis Union Station are open to all. Check the website at STLPolarExpressRide.com for an up-to-date list of events including Santa's Mail Room where kids can write to the Jolly Old Elf; story time with Mrs. Claus; live music and dance performances; the Panoramic Light Show in the Grand Hall and more.
Now through Jan. 3,
2015 – U.S. Bank Wild
Lights, St.
Louis Zoo,
Stroll through the Saint Louis Zoo's enchanting holiday
wonderland and enjoy thousands of colorful lights, animated light displays and
seasonal sounds now through Jan. 3,
2015, from
Now through Dec. 27 – Chase Park Plaza's Annual Holiday Extravaganza,
The legendary Chase
Park Plaza
hotel is hosting an Annual Holiday Extravaganza
now through Dec. 27 to celebrate St. Louis'
most beloved Holiday traditions. The month-long event will feature Christmas
carolers, cookie decorating, a gingerbread house, elves, a Hanukkah
Celebration, a special Kwanzaa display, and free photos with Santa and Mrs.
Claus. Throughout the month, Mrs. Claus
will be available Friday and Saturday evenings (
Now through Dec. 24 – 5th Annual Window Walk, Central West End,
The 5th Annual Central West End Window Walk is currently underway. Enjoy family-friendly festivities, stroll amidst beautifully decorated windows, watch live entertainment and discover special promotions throughout the District. Enjoy entertainment throughout the neighborhood on Dec. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 and 24. Visitors to the area can vote on their favorite window by visiting participating businesses. The People's Choice Winners will be announced at the end of the season, and voters will be chosen at random to receive a $50 gift certificate that may be used at select CWE businesses. Celebrity judges will determine their top three window winners as well. Go to http://cwescene.com for all the details.
Dec. 14, 21 & 28
– Family Sundays, Saint Louis Art Museum,
Everyone is invited to stop by the Saint
Louis Art Museum
every Sunday afternoon in December from
Now through Jan. 4, 2015 – Anheuser-Busch Holiday Lights 2014, Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Center, 6 to 10 p.m.
The Anheuser-Busch
holiday lights display offers more than half a million lights and a variety
of new experiences for guests of all ages to enjoy. This family-friendly event offers free self-guided
walking tours, warm and cozy fire pits for making s'mores, complimentary beer
samples for adults 21 and older, dinner at the Biergarten and more! Guests can enter through the Tour
Center, located at
Now through Dec. 31 – The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride, St. Louis Union Station,
All aboard for The
Polar Express Train Ride departing St. Louis Union Station with service to
the North Pole on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday
season! The magical story of the classic
children's book, The Polar Express,
is told during this ride on real trains .Families will drink hot chocolate, enjoy cookies, sing Christmas carols,
play with elves and meet Santa Claus, who will give them the first gift of
Christmas – a silver sleigh bell. Trains
depart at
Now through Jan. 3,
2015 – Garden Glow Holiday Light Exhibit, Missouri Botanical Garden,
The Garden Glow Light
Exhibit at the Missouri Botanical
Garden provides visitors a spectacle of unique
light displays, with hundreds of thousands of lights adorning some of the
Garden's most widely recognized locations including the Climatron. The Garden is located at
Save the Date
Dec. 19 – Third Friday Party, Third Degree Glass Factory,
Dec. 20 – The Ugly Sweater Run, Forest
Park,
Dec. 20 – 1864 Holiday Ball, Old
Courthouse,
Dec. 21 – National Lutheran Choir Christmas Concert, Christ
Church Cathedral,
Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities
Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight? If so, you may email the information about it to me at GrayR@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration. You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site: http://stlouis-mo.gov. The link to submit an event is at the very bottom of the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.
St. Louis Teen Talent Competition 2015
The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is once again underwriting and producing the annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition.High school students in the St. Louis Metro area (i.e., living within a 50-mile radius of the Gateway Arch) are invited to enter and compete for college scholarships, special awards, prizes and public appearance opportunities .The final deadline to return entry forms is Friday, Dec. 19. To register for the competition and to learn more, visit the foxpacf.org web site.
Col. Richard Gray
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis
-
Department:
Department of Public Safety
-
Topic:
Arts and Entertainment Events
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