Quincy Fire Department’s ‘Keep the Wreaths Red’ program ends

QUINCY — The Quincy Fire Department “Keep the Wreaths Red” program ended at midnight Jan. 1.

The annual public education initiative is designed to promote fire safety during the holiday season. It ran from Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, until midnight on Jan. 1, 2023. Wreaths with red lights were displayed at each Quincy fire station, and program sponsors Refreshments Services Pepsi and Ameren reminded everyone to be safe during the holiday season. After a confirmed residential fire, one red bulb on the wreath was changed to a white bulb.

During the 2022 program, the Quincy Fire Department responded to three residential fires. These fires were represented on the wreaths at each Quincy Fire Station by three white bulbs. The Quincy Fire Department responded to 52 structure fires before the “Keep the Wreaths Red” program started in 2022, so having three fires during the holiday season is a drastic reduction in fires for the year and helps demonstrate the program’s success.

The Quincy Fire Department ended 2022 with 4,520 total calls and 55 structure fires.

Having working smoke detectors allows for early detection of a fire, significantly increasing the chances of surviving a home fire and keeping property loss to a minimum.

For more information on fire safety, contact the Quincy Fire Department at 217-228-4459.