Holiday lights blamed for Indiana fire
Fire crews responded to a house fire in Indianapolis over the weekend which they say was caused when cords from holiday lights were left too close to a pile of trash and sparked a fire.
Officials said the fire was stopped before it could enter the main home, but the residents may still be making a homeowners insurance claim for approximately $5,000 in damage.
The three family members who live in the home are also deaf. A nearby high school student was able to use sign language to act as a translator between the family and emergency crews.
Local officials used the incident to emphasize the importance of holiday light safety, telling residents to avoid overloading their electrical outlets, throw away any wires that appear frayed and turn off all decorations before going to bed.
Holiday lights and Christmas trees are consistently named as the cause of many fires throughout the winter season. The National Fire Protection Association says that decorative lighting is in involved in roughly 170 home fires each year, causing nearly $8 million in damage annually.
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