5 Easy Ways to Prevent Fires This Holiday Season

1/15/2021 (Permalink)

The holiday season is a time for friends, family, and traditions. With those traditions comes decorating, and with decorating comes some common hazards which cause disasters that can be avoided with a little know-how and a few preventative measures.

December is the peak time for household fires, and the top 3 days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day, and New Year’s Eve. Candles, lighting, fireworks, and Christmas trees are some of the main culprits when it comes to property damage from fires. Here are 5 easy ways to avoid tragedy this holiday season:

1. Use flameless candles

These are a safe alternative to traditional candles, and with the many different varieties now available on the market, your options are limitless. They often look and smell like real candles, but don’t have to risk factor their more-traditional counterparts.

2. Be cautious using traditional candles

Put traditional candles in stable holders and keep them at least 12 inches from anything flammable. Also, don’t fall asleep with candles lit and when you leave the room, blow them out.

3. Take care when celebrating with fireworks

When it comes to celebrations involving explosives, extreme care should be exercised. 10 percent of fireworks fires occur from December 30th through January 3rd, with the peak of these fires occurring on New Year's Day.

4. Be careful with holiday trees

Pick out a tree with fresh green needles when not using a flame retardant artificial tree. Make sure you keep the tree watered daily and dispose of it properly at the end of the season by finding a local tree recycling program. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, from 2011-2015 there was an average of 200 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year, and this cost $14.8 million in property damage annually.

5. Don’t overload electrical outlets

When using adapters/splitters or extension cords and power strips, don’t overdo it. Use common sense and only plugin items if there is an available outlet.