During the holidays, residential fires are much more frequent, more expensive, and more deadly than at any other time of the year.
The holidays are one of the most common times of the year for house fires, so please be aware of the dangers. During the holidays, residential fires are much more frequent, more expensive, and more deadly than at any other time of the year. The United States Fire Administration reports that fires caused by open flames are much more common during Christmas and New Year’s. When these fires occur, they tend to do a lot more damage. Property losses are greater and injuries and fatalities, higher. Read on for some helpful fire safety tips for this holiday season!
Holiday Cooking
Cooking is the number one cause of holiday fires. The most common culprit is unattended food on the stove. It’s easy to get distracted; take a potholder when you leave the kitchen as a friendly reminder that you’ve got something on the stove. Remember to keep an extinguisher in your kitchen area, and check your smoke detectors to make sure they’re working. If you are planning to deep-fry a turkey or ham, do it outside on a flat and level surface at least 20 feet from your house.
Holiday Candles
The use of candles is more common during the holidays. The incidence of candle fires is about four times higher during Christmas than any other time of the year. Some of the most dangerous days of the year are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. To minimize the danger:
- Maintain about a foot of space between your candles and any combustibles
- Set the candles on sturdy bases or cover them with hurricane globes.
- Never, ever leave candles unattended and blow them out when you go to bed.
Christmas Trees
It takes less than a minute for a dry tree to completely engulf a room in fire. To minimize risk, purchase a fresh tree with needles that are intact, and make sure to water it every day. Keep it away from any heat sources, like a fireplace, space heater, or radiator and out of any foot-traffic patterns. Don’t use lighted candles on a tree and inspect your lights for warn or frayed wiring. Unplug the lights when you leave the house or go to bed.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage since 1947—and this experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, fire protection expertise, and reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are located in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.