For most of us, the holiday season conjures nothing but positive associations. But the holidays are associated with some of the highest rates of house fires in the year. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an average of 770 house fires begin every year from holiday decorations. This doesn’t even include those caused by Christmas trees. The best way to avoid these fires is to be aware of what causes them. Today, we’ll explain the biggest holiday fire threats you should be mindful of.
Christmas trees aren’t the only holiday fire threats. Watch out for these others!
Candles
Candles can lend a wonderful warmth, light, and ambiance to any room. People tend to make extensive use of them during the holiday season. But they can also be dangerous.
Remember: a candle is just a controlled flame. You should treat it as such. Never leave a room in which a lit candle is burning. You should also avoid lighting them in rooms where you might fall asleep, such as your bedroom.
The number one thing you can do to prevent candle fires is to stay present in the room where they are lit. If you must leave—even momentarily—be responsible and blow it out.
Fireplaces
Often, fireplaces prove to be a safer option than candles. But you have to take a similar degree of caution when using them.
Many people who aren’t habitual fire lighters use the holidays as an excuse finally to give their fireplaces some use. Before you do so much as strike a match, ask yourself: when was the last time I had this chimney swept? As a rule of thumb, you should get your fireplace cleaned and inspected at least once annually. Heavy fireplace users should do so more often.
Here are some other best practices for fireplace safety:
- Do not leave the fireplace unattended
- Burn only well-seasoned firewood
- Keep anything flammable well away
- Don’t let children fuss with it
Lights
Christmas lights are a much-loved staple of holiday decorations. Before you go crazy with them, you should keep in mind that they are commonly involved in electrical fires. Thankfully, there are a few easy steps you can take to reduce the risk of holiday lights causing a house fire.
When you’re using extension cords, take great care not to overload them. Additionally, you should make note of which extension cords are meant for indoor vs. outdoor use, and only use them in the appropriate space. Make sure that none of the wires are frayed, as this could cause sparks to fly. Finally, make sure to turn off all of your lights before leaving your home or going to sleep.
You might think it sounds nice to doze off near your lit Christmas tree. But you don’t want to wake up to a fire. Keep these holiday fire threats in mind as these special days approach!
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience in designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.