Holiday Safety 101: Tips to Prevent Fires from Decorations and Cooking
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Party time is holiday time. We put up the tree, light the candles, and prepare wonderful meals. Amidst all the commotion, though, fire safety is last on the list. Fires really do occur during the holidays — primarily, owing to decorations, lighting, candles, and cooking.
If you are traveling on holiday, do a few easy things ahead of time to secure your house and family. Below are a few simple ideas to use so that you can have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
1. Check Your Holiday Lights
Holiday lights are wonderful to hang up, but heck if they are stale or used improperly. Inspect the wiring and the light bulbs before you plug them in. If you see frays or cracks, it’s safer to replace them rather than risk it.
Experiment using LED lights — they won’t heat up and use less energy. Use the indoor light indoors and the outdoor light outdoors. That’s probably a given, but there are a few individuals who can’t distinguish between the two. Also, don’t put several lights into one. That will drain it and blow it out.
Turn off all the lights in the evening. If you get into the habit of forgetting, turn them on a timer instead. That way, you’re not relying on memory — and you’ll be consuming less energy, too.
2. Keep Decorations Away from Heat Everywhere
Decorations add holiday cheer to your home, but they’re very flammable. Paper, plastic, and fabric decorations ignite quickly if they’re near candles, space heaters, or fireplaces.
Try to place decorations away from any heat source. Avoid hanging garlands above heaters, and avoid leaving paper crafts in the vicinity of open flames. When purchasing new decorations, look for some that are labeled as “flame-resistant.” They’re a bit less hazardous to have around.
Avoid putting decorations in lamps or above bulbs, either. Those places heat up quickly, and it won’t take long for something to ignite on fire.
3. Candle Safety First
Soot covered kitchen appliances in a home gutted by fire
Soot filled kitchen devices in a fire-gutted house
Candles are pleasant for a warm holiday ambiance, but they’re second only to the top of the holiday fire list’s first pick. If you do have candles, place candles at least one foot away from something that will burn — curtains, paper decorations, even your Christmas tree.
Use stable stands and put them on stable surfaces that won’t turn over. And no matter how short of a trip you’re taking — if you’re leaving the room, blow them out. Most fires start in less than minutes.
If you do have a safety concern (particularly in homes with children or pets), then flameless candles are available. They are real-looking and free of hazard.
A nicely decorated Christmas tree is typically the focal point of holiday entertaining. But if it isn’t handled correctly, it can be a fire risk — especially real trees that shrivel up.
If you are getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh. The needles should be green and not easily falling off. After bringing it in, water it daily. A dry tree can catch fire in seconds.
And don’t stand your tree near heaters, fireplaces, or candles. And don’t place it in front of the door — you’ll want room to make an emergency exit if there’s a fire.
For those bought from the shop, look at the box or container and see if it is marked as “fire-resistant.” That’s always a relief.
When cutting the tree, employ LEDs and never nest bulbs more than half way in branches. And, like in all else, turn off the lights at night or when leaving the house.
5. Do Not Leave Cooking Alone
Holiday fires most commonly start in the kitchen. With all of the baking, frying, roasting, and reheating, you can get distracted. But don’t leave the stove alone — not even for a minute.
Be careful with heat, especially stovetop heat. If you have to leave, get someone to stay with it or turn off the burner when you get back.
Fold towels, plastics, and papers away from heat. And for goodness’ sake, don’t cook in loose-fitting arms — they will fold around fires or hot burners.
Clean oven and stove. Grease is a fire starter. And if you haven’t already bought a fire extinguisher for the space, consider buying one now and learning about correct use.
6. Test Your Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are small but worthwhile. They may give you the seconds you need to get out alive when there’s a fire. So make certain that they work.
Test your smoke alarms monthly. There is usually a test button to push on most of them to make sure the alarm is loud enough. Replace batteries annually, or sooner if they start to chirp. And replace your alarm if it’s more than 10 years old.
Install alarms around your home, especially by or in bedrooms. Home fires are most likely to happen at night, and you’ll be glad you have that head start warning you if you’re asleep.
7. Have a Fire Escape Plan
Despite taking precautions, things do go wrong. That’s why there should be an escape plan in every home in the event of a fire.
With your family, move around the house and have two exit points from every room. With your family, designate an outside area where all individuals will gather in case of fire.
Practice the evacuation plan with the whole household — and that means children, too. They need to be able to identify the sound of the smoke alarm and know what to do when they hear it. Remember: get out and stay out. Don’t go back in.
8. Watch Out for Kids and Pets
Little kids don’t know about danger, especially on holiday play. Matches, candles, and lighters need to be out of reach. Fireplaces or heaters should be turned off where this is an option.
Don’t leave children alone with lit candles or cooking devices in a room. The same rule goes for animals — they can toss something onto the floor by accident or chew the wires without being aware of the risk.
Better safe than sorry, especially with the house crowded and everyone in a nervous state.
9. Utilize Your Fireplace Safely
If you have a fireplace, burn with a screen behind you to keep sparks out of the room. Burn only seasoned firewood, dry — never wrapping paper, garbage, or plastic. They can start fast, destructive fires.
Let ashes cool completely before they are dumped. And get your fireplace inspected at least annually if you use it extensively. Soot buildup causes chimney fires.
10. Do: Rapid Safety Check Prior to Bed
Take a walk around the house in the evening or when leaving for a holiday party. Switch off all the lights, blow out candles, and ensure the stove has been switched off. Plug off lights that do not have to be plugged.
These simple steps will save you so much and reassure you that all is well.
Bonus Tips for Holiday Safety
Christmas Tree Safety Precautions: In case you do have a natural tree, keep it well-watered so it will not dry out and become a fire hazard. Place the tree at a distance from heat sources such as fireplaces or radiators.
Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Alarms: Have a fire extinguisher readily available and check that all smoke alarms are functioning properly.
Educate Your Family: Inform your family members of the fire safety plans, the evacuation procedures, and emergency phone numbers.
To learn more about fire damage restoration, read our article: What to Do After Surviving a House Fire
Holidays don’t have to and shouldn’t be a source of anxiety or an emergency room visit — just a little extra comfort and care. If you are careful with lights, candles, cooking, and ornaments just so much more, you can bring light to your season and a safe home.
Fire-safety is easy and it’s well worth it. Be cautious, be safe, and enjoy a great holiday with family and friends.
If you experience any fire or water damage this holiday season, contact 24 Hour Flood Pros to address any damages swiftly and effectively.
