This year, the authorities have registered 29 deaths in fires, which doubles the figure from last year (14). This is the highest record of deaths in the last 12 years.
The Fire Department says that to date they have also dealt with 1,103 structural fires, 18 more than in 2017. In fact, between Monday noon and 10 am on Tuesday, they had to put out five structural fires, two in Alajuela, two more in Heredia, and one in Guanacaste.
Therefore, the authorities reiterate the call for prevention measures:
-Do not overload electrical systems.
-Replace candles with LED lights.
-Do not leave children alone at home and do not allow them to play with gunpowder, matches or lighters.
-Do not use uncertified electric lights on artificial Christmas trees.
-Keep natural Christmas trees well-irrigated and make sure it does not dry out completely.
-If the natural tree has dried before the end of the Christmas period and you do not want to remove it, do not connect the lights.
-Place the tree where you do not block exits.
-Do not use burning candles in a tree or in windows.
-Do not keep fires burning near children or wooden structures and be sure to put it out completely.