Fire Commissioner Harold B. Hairston wishes to remind everyone in Philadelphia to take a moment during the busy Christmas season to think about home fire safety. Christmas is a festive time of the year, but it is also a very dangerous season in terms of residential fires.

December, in the United States, is one of the most dangerous months for home fires. Last December, the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to 873 fire related incidents. Over 200 of these responses were to fires in occupied structures.

Because of the fire risk during the Christmas season, Commissioner Hairston directed the Fire Prevention Division to distribute fire safety flyers titled, "Special Fire Hazards of the Christmas Season" to each fire station. The public is welcome to visit their local fire company and firefighters will be happy to give them a timely reminder about Christmas fire safety.

Commissioner Hairston and the members of the Philadelphia Fire Department wishes everyone a "Fire Safe Christmas."