Preventing Holiday Fires
It’s December and you know what that means: the holiday season is officially in full swing! This month you may find yourself at a holiday dinner party exchanging gifts with friends. Or maybe you’ll be home warming up by the fireplace while watching a movie with family.
During this festive month, the last thing on your mind is the risk of experiencing a house fire. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association, December is the peak time of year for certain kinds of house fires. In order to help eliminate any chances of a house fire we’ve put together a list of things to inspect so you can have a fun and safe holiday.
Check the Lights
Twinkling lights are part of the holiday fun. If you plan on using lights to decorate the inside and outside of your home make sure you:
- Connect no more than 3 strands of mini lights
- Connect no more than 50 bulbs for screw-in light sets
- Check light strands for frayed or cracked wires
- Use UL-rated clips to hang up outdoor lights. This will avoid any damage happening to the wires
- Unplug the lights when you leave the house or go to bed
Check the Christmas Tree
One in every six tree fires is caused because a heat source was too close to the tree. When putting up your tree make sure:
- Your tree is 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles and heat vents
- Your fresh tree is properly watered to avoid dryness
- Your artificial tree is flame-retardant
Candles
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, two out of five home decoration fires are started by candles. Whether you’re lighting a Menorah or the candle on your dinner table make sure they:
- Are secured in their candle holder and cannot be knocked around easily
- Are out of reach of children and pets
- Are properly extinguished when finished using them
Start your holiday season right by following these tips to preventing a house fire. And no matter what time of year it is, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have fresh batteries in your fire alarm, an accessible fire extinguisher and an emergency plan just in case. Take the necessary steps now to make sure you and your loved ones are safe.