The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration with family and friends to give thanks for the life we have and the people we share it with. During this time, many family traditions are put into motion. Secret family recipes come out for the holidays, the decorations go up to celebrate the season, and the candles come out to enhance the ambiance of the home. All these things, if not properly managed, can lead to an unforgettable holiday season for the wrong reasons.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking, decorations, and candles are the leading causes of fires during the holiday season. Cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day and are usually the result of unattended cooking due to family distractions, multi-tasking, or exhaustion. Decorations account for an estimated average of over 800 fires per year and cause an estimated $17 million in damage per year. Over 50% of decoration fires were started from electrical issues such as improper equipment, installation, or faulty bulbs. Candle fires peak during the holiday season contributing to 12% of Christmas tree fires and 50% of decoration fires. The most important way to protect yourself against these common issues is to be self-aware and educate yourself.
Fires can be avoided. To find out more about the some of the contributing factors to fires during the holiday season and some tips to ensure a safe holiday, visit the NFPA and take advantage of the free resources and tip sheets available to be more prepared. Hope you and your loved ones have a safe and joyous holiday season!
Starting tomorrow many Washington state businesses will have to start collecting retail sales tax for previously exempted services:
Learn more about ESSB 5814 from the Washington Department of Revenue’s website.
Did you know that there is rulemaking regarding accidental release reporting of hazardous materials to the Chemical Safety Board (CSB)? According to the Clean Air Act, Section 112(r), owners/operators of facilities are required to report accidental releases of hazardous materials that result in significant property damage, serious injury, or fatality to the CSB. The Clean Air Act empowers the EPA to establish enforcement actions against entities that fail to report an accidental release. The first of its kind enforcement actions were levied against Pacific Gas and Electric Company on July 28, 2025.
The incident involving the enforcement action occurred on June 8, 2023, when a pipeline worker suffered serious injury due to an accidental release of natural gas. The CSB was aware of the incident and advised the company to complete the accidental release report, but they failed to do so. The CSB then turned the incident over to the EPA for enforcement. The cooperative effort resulted in a civil penalty of $45,273 and the company had to submit the report to the CSB.
This may end up being the first and only collaborative enforcement action of this type as the Federal Government is proposing to shut down the CSB by October of this year. If the CSB is shutdown, the rule will likely be amended to address accidental reporting procedures for the EPA. For more information, you can read the EPA news release on the settlement here. To review the reporting rule, click here.
The September HAZWOPER Challenge is now closed. Thank you for participating. Please come back October 1st for our next HAZWOPER Challenge!