The holidays are upon us, and there is nothing like celebrating the season with jaw-dropping decorations, enchanting home cooking, and warm evenings snuggled up by the fire.
However, with all the new possible fire hazards that accompany the holiday season, a little precaution and care can go a long way for avoiding incidents.
Here are a few fire safety tips for the holiday season!
Cooking for the whole family
It’s common to go all out with your holiday cooking. However, with the distractions of the holidays, often cooking a big meal leads to potential hazards when a pot boils over on the stove or we leave the casserole in the oven a little too long.
- Double check you turned off all cooking appliances before running out the door to your family holiday gathering.
- Be wary of leaving the kitchen when multi-tasking and cooking many dishes at once.
- Make sure you have fire extinguishers at the ready and check your smoke detectors before cooking large meals.
Decking the halls
Ah, the delightful and familiar glow of multi-colored Christmas lights donning the houses that line the streets of your neighborhood. Though a welcoming and inviting site, holiday decorations can lead to fire hazards without some precaution.
Before plugging in your Christmas lights, check each cord for damage and throw out strands that are kinked or worn. Avoid overloading one household circuit by spreading light strands across multiple circuits. Turn off decorations before leaving the house and keep your Christmas tree well-watered, as dry trees can catch fire easily.
When using candles, keep them at least 12 inches away from flammable items and do not leave a candle burning in a room unattended.
Heating your home
The colder temperatures cause us to crank up our space heaters and stoke the fireplace without properly preparation. Before you use your fireplace each season, have your chimney inspected and cleaned. Use a fireplace screen to keep embers in the fireplace and not on the flammable carpet. Then be sure to keep your fireplace free of debris and burn only firewood that has been seasoned a year or more.
Use space heaters as a temporary heating source and avoid using with an extension cord. Watch out for old space heaters with cracked or frayed wires. Try to keep pets and children away from the heater and keep it in a location away from things that can easily catch fire, such as tables, furniture, or the Christmas tree.
Get extra prepared for the holiday hazards with a home sprinkler system from Fire Tech Residential Sprinklers LLC. Contact us today to learn more!