The holiday season, although filled with joy and laughter, is easily one of the most dangerous times of the year for household fires. With more than double the number of open-flame fires occurring on Christmas Day, holiday fires are more frequent, costly, and deadly than fires that occur any other time of the year.
Outlets
During the holidays it can be easy to overcrowd your outlets. Electrical malfunctions are a huge cause of residential fires during the holiday season and can very much be avoided.
Smoke Detectors
Regularly test the smoke detectors in your home to ensure they are working properly. At times smoke detectors malfunction when they are clogged with dust or dirt, so remember to keep them clean.
Candles
Candles are popular during the Holiday season, but remember to place them away from any flammable materials.
Heating
As the temperature begins to get colder, fireplaces, boilers, radiators, and space heaters get turned on and cranked up. According to theNational Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating equipment is the second-greatest cause of home fires each year. Remember to keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from items that could easily become hot and burn, including upholstery and your Christmas tree. When lighting your fireplace remember to make sure the damper is open and always use a screen or grate to keep the fire contained.
Gifts
Gifts can also quickly become a fire hazard, so be mindful of where you store wrapped gifts and remember to keep them away from any open flames.
Graphic retrieved from: www.nfpa.org
Kitchen
When preparing for your Holiday celebrations, most of us spend an extended amount of time in our kitchen. With so many tasks at hand, it's easy to become distracted and forget what you are doing. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that the number one cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking. The best way to prevent an accident is to stay present in the room while cooking, keep kitchen clutter to a minimum and store all combustible items away from your stove.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) a heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every four fires.
Real Christmas Trees
On average each year, U.S fire departments respond to more than 200 home fires involving real Christmas Trees. (www.nfpa.org) Keeping your Christmas tree from becoming dehydrated is the number one way to preventing it from catching on fire. Remember to keep your tree at least 3 feet from any heat source, cut the bottom of the tree an inch or so from the tree’s trunk, and remember to keep it watered daily.
All facts and statistics retrieved from www.nfpa.org.