Home Safety: Holiday & Winter Fire Damage Avoidance Tips

Be Careful with Your Heaters

Here in the Dallas area, many of us don’t run our heaters all winter long like our northern neighbors do. That doesn’t mean that we get a free pass when it comes to maintaining our heating systems, however. 

If you have central heating with a heat pump, you’ve likely been using it all summer as central air conditioning. It’s still not a bad idea to have a professional inspection done before you begin using it to heat the house. The same goes for your furnace and even any space heaters you’re using.

Change your heat pump or furnace filters before the season, and make note as to how often your system’s manufacturer (or the filter’s manufacturer) recommends changing them. Be sure to keep up with this schedule. 

If you have a fireplace, wood-burning stove, or another appliance that uses the chimney, have your chimney cleaned before you use it. In addition, review some of the chimney safety tips recommended by Rockford Mutual Insurance.

Be Mindful About Your Decorations

Many home fires during the month of December happen when Christmas trees catch on fire. If you have a real Christmas tree in your home, be sure to keep it hydrated by keeping it well watered. Also, don’t use real candles on any Christmas tree, and only have the lights on when you’re home to keep your eye on them.

If you have a menorah, be cautious about lighting them. Don’t leave them burning in the vicinity of unsupervised children, and be sure they’re fully extinguished before you go to bed or leave the house. Using a candle snuffer is safer than blowing them out. This applies to all candles, of course.

Choose flame-resistant or flame-retardant decorations wherever possible, and keep them away from sources of heat. In addition, avoid overloading your electrical outlets and extension cords both indoors and out. Unplug outside decorative lights before you go to bed for the evening.

Follow Sensible Cooking Practices

The holidays are a time of gathering together and enjoying traditional foods. Many families do a lot more cooking than they might on a typical day, and it’s common to have family members of all ages going in and out of the kitchen. When cooking, practice safe cooking habits.

Make sure one person is in charge of keeping track of how much time dishes need to cook for. Stay in the kitchen while cooking, and use timers as needed, so you don’t forget something in the oven. 

Keep small children out of the kitchen when actively cooking if there’s a crowd; a young child could easily pull down a pot off of a stove or accidentally toss a toy onto the stovetop. Try to have at least one adult in charge of monitoring any kids who do enter the kitchen area.

Finally, keep good practices in mind. Keep dish towels and potholders off of the stove, turn pot handles inward, and double check that the oven and burners are turned off when you’re done using them.

Maintain Your Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers

One of the most important ways you can safeguard your home from fire during the holidays is to ensure your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries. If a fire were to occur, the faster you know about it, the faster you can get everyone to safety and extinguish the fire. If you haven’t changed your smoke detector batteries within the past six months, do that now. Also, test them all monthly to make sure they’re working properly.

Having an ABC-rated fire extinguisher on hand will allow you to quickly put out a small fire, whether it’s caused by wood, oils, or electrical equipment. If you have a fire extinguisher you haven’t pulled out in a while, check its expiration date and replace it if necessary. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher at all, they’re widely available in home improvement stores and online.

Conclusion

Preparing for the holidays should include putting some time aside to check for fire safety. Use safe materials, keep your Christmas tree watered, and most importantly, make sure your smoke detectors and your fire extinguisher are up to date and working properly. Stay safe, and have a happy holiday season!

Source

• https://www.rockfordmutual.com/blog/10-chimney-safety-tips-stay-safe-and-warm