Eau Claire, Altoona Launch Keep the Wreath Green Campaign

The Eau Claire, Altoona and Township Fire Departments have launched their annual “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign to promote fire safety.

While the winter weather brings some relief from wildfire risk, it also brings increased danger of structure fires with people spending more time indoors and needing to heat their homes. The holiday season brings some additional risk with Christmas trees and countless extension cords delivering power to extravagant light displays.

Each year, the Eau Claire Fire District and Altoona and Township Fire Departments promote fire safety with the “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign. Throughout the holiday season, each station will have a five foot wreath covered in green lights outside.

For every structure fire those departments respond to, one of those green lights is replaced with a red light. The goal is to make it through the holiday season with no red lights on the wreaths, a goal the community did accomplish during the 2024 campaign.

Altoona Fire Chief Mark Renderman shared some common holiday-related causes of home fires to look out for during the campaign.

“We are also hoping that people are, when they’re setting their decorations up in their home, that they don’t use multiple extension cords or make sure they use heavy enough cords if they do use them, and make sure they’re not overloading circuits and outlets in the home,” he said. “Also keep those Christmas trees that are natural, making sure that they have enough water and keeping them moist. Because, you know, the Christmas tree is a very volatile thing if it burns.”

Chief Renderman also noted residents should avoid using open flame devices too close to their homes and if they’re using a tent to host an event, that tent should be fire rated and ventilated to prevent carbon monoxide-related medical emergencies.