If you drive by any of the six Eau Claire fire stations, you may soon see a green wreath hanging up on the wall. But it's more than a regular Christmas decoration, as the fire department's annual "keep the wreath green" campaign is set to start on Thanksgiving.
The goal of the campaign is to try and encourage people in the community to stay safe this winter, and to prevent fires during the holiday season. If a fire occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, the fire department adds a red light to the wreath.
"Cooking fires and kitchen fires are still the number one cause of fires in the United States, contributing more than 50% of fires in the United States," said Eau Claire deputy fire chief Allyn Bertrang. "We are in the time of year where it's colder and people are using various means to heat their homes and businesses. If unsafe practices are happening, then you could also have fires related to heating."