Mankato’s 2024 “Keep the Wreath Bright, Prevent a Red Light” Results
Mankato’s “Keep the Wreath Bright, Prevent a Red Light” annual public safety campaign ended with four red bulbs and one blue bulb on the wreath.
Breakdown of Incidents:
- Red Bulb: A wooden cutting board placed on a stove top burner ignited a fire.
- Red Bulb: Spontaneous combustion due to laundry-related materials.
- Red Bulb: Grease accumulation on a commercial cooking appliance led to a fire.
- Red Bulb: A cooking-related fire.
- Blue Bulb: The aforementioned cooking-related fire resulted in significant damage.
All of these fires and the injury that occurred were preventable. To reduce the risk of fire, we encourage the following safety measures:
- Maintain at least three feet of clearance around heat sources such as stove top burners.
- Allow items to cool before placing them in laundry bins to prevent spontaneous combustion.
- Ensure appliances are cleaned and maintained regularly to avoid grease buildup.
- Stay present while cooking and follow recommended procedures for extinguishing a grease fire to prevent injury.
This campaign is designed to help remind people about fire safety during the holiday season. The goal of the campaign is to keep the wreath, which was displayed at the Public Safety Center, 710 S. Front St., lit with clear bulbs (red bulbs represent fires and blue bulbs represent fire‐related injuries).
For more information contact public safety staff at 507‐387‐8577.