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| Photo: Budget Direct |
As the song says, in many ways the holiday season really
is “the most wonderful time of the year”. But in other ways, it can be the most
dangerous time of year. The important
thing is to be cautious so your celebrations are more “wonderful” than “dangerous”.
The holiday season may not seem like a peak time for
house fires, but the truth is, nearly 47,000 fires occur during this time,
according to the American Red Cross’ website. Below, we look at a few common holiday
fire hazards and how to prevent them.
Real
trees. It’s just not Christmas without a tree but keeping a
live one healthy takes work. Place your
tree in the center of the room, away from drafty windows and at least three
feet away from a heat source. Water the tree daily (if not more) to keep it
hydrated. (Dry trees are a major safety risk.) A real tree should be tossed
right after Christmas or when it becomes dry.
Candles.
Candles
are widely used in many secular and religious holiday traditions and
celebrations, and their increased usage means they’re a bigger potential fire
hazard. To minimize the risk, never decorate your tree with candles or open flames.
Keep lit candles a safe distance from Christmas trees, decorations, drafty
windows (and window treatments like curtains or draperies), and heat sources like
portable heaters and radiators. Always extinguish lit candles before leaving
your home or going to bed.
Lights
and decorations. String lights and other decor add a festive touch to our homes both
inside and out, but look at each item before using it. Never use lights with
frayed cords (and replace any burned out bulbs if possible). Check lights,
ornaments, and other decorations for broken pieces or sharp edges—while not a
fire hazard, per se, you don’t want your holiday gathering to end with a trip
to the emergency room because of a nasty cut.
Fireplaces
and portable heat sources. Just like candles, fireplaces and other
heat sources (space heaters, pellet stoves) tend to be used more this time of
year. Keep decorations and other flammable items (such as table linens) away from
these heat sources. According to the National Fire Protection Association’s
website, 42% of decoration fires start because decorations are placed too close
to a heat source. Monitor your heat and fuel levels and extinguish everything
properly before leaving your house or going to bed.
Keep your holidays memorable for all the right
reasons. Follow the above tips or visit nfpa.org to learn more about keeping
your home safe this season and all year round.
