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Wichita fire captain and police PIO deliver holiday fire and theft-prevention guidance
Summary
Wichita Fire and Police officials advised residents to keep Christmas trees watered, keep trees at least 3 feet from heat sources, follow manufacturer instructions for lights, ensure working smoke detectors, avoid warming vehicles unattended, lock cars and remove valuables, and report suspicious activity; a city contact number was provided for assistance.
Wichita officials used the Regional Fire Training Center briefing to deliver specific holiday-safety guidance for residents. An unnamed Wichita Fire captain warned that live Christmas trees can become dangerously dry and urged steps to reduce fire risk: check needle loss when selecting a tree, cut about 2 inches off the trunk base, keep the stand filled with water and water the tree daily, and place trees at least 3 feet from heat sources such as radiators or candles. The captain also urged residents to use lights that meet manufacturer instructions and listed standards and to keep working smoke detectors; the captain provided the city assistance number, 316-268-4111.
Officer Chris Cupalon, public information officer for the Wichita Police Department, recommended steps to reduce vehicle theft and break-ins: do not warm cars unattended, keep doors locked and key fobs secured, remove valuables from plain view or place them in the trunk before arriving at a destination, and consider anti-theft devices such as steering-wheel locks or tracking systems. Cupalon urged residents to report suspicious activity and noted the department’s social media safety postings (referred to as "Well Done Wednesdays").
The mayor said the city will ask the fire department to provide weekly safety tips during the holiday season and directed motorists to state and local road-condition resources (call 511 or visit kandrive.org for state conditions and wichita.gov/streets for local updates). No formal policy actions were proposed during the briefing.
