For more than 20 years, Wood County firefighters have been asking people to "Keep the Wreath Green" by paying attention to fire safety during the holidays.
Each year since 1994, Wood County fire departments hang wreaths filled with green lights on their buildings. For each structure fire in the county from Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Eve, a green bulb is changed to a red one. The idea is for people to remember fire safety and try to "Keep the Wreath Green" when they see the wreaths.
This message may be more important than ever this year as people stay home, cook more and decorate more this holiday season, Pittsville Fire Chief Jerry Minor said. Cooking is still one of the biggest causes of fires during the holiday season, so it's important to practice fire safety in the kitchen, he said.