When most people think about the holidays, family festivities and good cheer likely come to mind. What few of us consider is that the holidays also present an increased risk of home fires. Home fires during the holiday season often involve cooking, candles, decorations, and Christmas trees. By taking some preventive measures and following simple safety rules, most home fires can be prevented.
Cooking
• Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop, and turn it off when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time.
• For simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• Create a “child-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are present.
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Candles
• When burning candles, keep them at least 12” away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Never leave a child or pet alone in a room with a burning candle.
Decorations and Christmas Trees
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
• Water a real Christmas tree daily and always turn off tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
• When a real Christmas tree has dried out, remove it from the home immediately.