Green Bay Metro Fire Department wraps up its holiday wreath program with five residential fires, January 5, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Green Bay Metro Fire Department)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay community ended the holiday season with five red bulbs in the fire department’s annual wreath program.
There were five residential fires from Nov. 27, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026. Of these incidents, two were due to improper disposal of smoking materials.
Green Bay Metro Fire says as residents transition into the new year, one important resolution everyone can make is to prioritize fire safety.
Here are some tips to remember and practice throughout the year:
- Make sure you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors within the home. Need smoke alarms? Call our smoke alarm hotline at (920)448-3303 or go online to sign up for the smoke alarm program.
- Plan and practice an escape plan with everyone in the home, including children and pets.
- Keep matches and lighters stored out of reach of children and use child safety locks on cabinets.
- Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants, or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves, or other things that could ignite easily. Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that.
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Use a timer to help remind you that you are cooking. Keep flammable items away from the cooktop and don’t use the oven as a storage space. If you have a small (grease) cooking fire on the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. When in doubt, get out and call 911.
On average, Green Bay Metro Fire Department sees seven residential fires during the holiday season.
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