Storm Lake Fire Department Lights Wreath as Holiday Safety Reminder

Storm Lake Fire Department is unveiling a visual safety campaign on December 2, 2025 designed to keep holiday fire risks top of mind for Buena Vista County residents. A wreath mounted at the fire station is lit with red bulbs at the start of the season, and each time the department answers a structure fire call one red bulb will be switched to a white bulb. The change is meant to serve as a clear and public reminder to practice holiday fire safety and to encourage households to reduce risks before the bulbs change color.

The campaign underscores a list of practical precautions the department is promoting to prevent residential fires. Residents are asked to inspect light strands for damage, avoid overloaded outlets, keep live trees watered and positioned away from heat sources, use UL approved lights, choose flame resistant decorations, and turn off decorative lights before leaving home or going to sleep. The stated goal is to prevent home fires and to keep all bulbs red through the holiday period.

For a community that relies on local emergency responders the campaign is both symbolic and functional. Each white bulb will provide a visible tally of structure fire responses, conveying the immediate human and property impacts of preventable incidents. That visibility can also inform neighborhood conversations, prompt households to perform quick safety checks and reduce strain on volunteer and municipal resources during a busy season.

There is an economic dimension to the effort. Fewer home fires mean lower potential property losses and less demand on emergency services budgets. Preventive behavior reduces cleanup and repair costs for families and helps preserve firefighter capacity for other emergencies.

Storm Lake Fire Department is using a simple public display to translate safety guidance into community action. Residents are encouraged to follow the department's safety steps at home and treat the wreath as a reminder that small precautions can have sizable benefits for personal safety and the county budget during the holidays.