Holiday Fire Safety Tips to Keep in Mind | SERVPRO® of Houston County

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

Make sure your fire risk is low during the holidays. If you experience any damage, SERVPRO of Houston County will be here to help.

House fires do not discriminate based on season, but in the winter they are certainly more apt to occur. The Red Cross has reported that the winter season is the time when most house fires occur, in part because they are given more opportunity due to the fire dangers associated with winter activities.

Many people find themselves doing more in the kitchen around the holidays and in the colder months, making cooking fires more likely to occur. Additionally, more people are using heaters, fireplaces and decorations, making heating and electrical fires a possibility. Read on to discover how you can make the most of your holiday season while still practicing fire safety.

Keep Fire Safety at the Forefront of Winter Activities

Keep safe when cooking. Cooking is consistently the catalyst for the highest number of house fires during any part of the year, and winter is no different. Winter often brings about large holiday meals and extra baking projects, giving fires more of an opportunity to begin. Avoid keeping flammable objects near the stove and always be sure you have a fire extinguisher handy in case there are any incidents that occur.

Heat the house with proper precautions. Warming up areas of your home with space heaters or starting a fire in the fireplace is a great way to get cozy, as long as you keep safety in mind. Space heaters should always be equipped with sensors to prevent them from overheating or running while tipped over, and they should never be used on carpet or flammable items. For fireplaces, get your chimney inspected before you use it for the first time each year and be sure you have a grate installed properly to avoid any accidents.

Decorate with care. Adding holiday decorations is a lot of fun, but it should always be done with electrical safety in mind. Electrical and wiring issues cause around a quarter of all Christmas tree fires. Be sure none of your wires are frayed, make certain that you do not overload outlets or power strips and ensure you never leave lights or other decorations plugged in if you are away or asleep.

If you have damage due to a house fire, you can depend on us to help. Contact us 24 hours a day to report damage and receive a quick response from our certified restoration technicians. Get in touch today.