The holiday season is a much-anticipated time for celebration with family and friends. The last two months of the year contain back-to-back causes for celebration across cultures and religions throughout the country. As fun (and busy!) as the holiday season gets, it is important to remember to protect your home and family from any potential damage or harm that may occur given the increased incidence of fire hazards during this time. In this article, we look at all of the ways you can fire-proof your home as you begin to celebrate.
In the kitchen
Food is one of the most important parts of any major celebration — and its preparation takes great caution. Adding more pots to the stove when cooking for a large group of people is usually necessary, but also increases the risk of something boiling over or going up in smoke if you are not careful.
- Always take care that there is someone in the kitchen at all times while cooking, to take action if any issues arise.
- Keep pan lids close at hand in case a fire starts, so you can quickly cover the pan and remove it from the stove.
- Turn off all devices immediately after use, even if you plan to use them again for dessert; better safe than sorry.
Fireplaces and candles
Lighting a fire in the fireplace and putting candles on the mantle or at the windows of your home are important traditions for many during the holidays. Take preemptive measures to make sure these open fires are not hazardous.
- Get your fireplace inspected before use to make sure there are no issues.
- Use seasoned wood in traditional fireplaces; avoid burning wrapping paper and other materials on a whim. These ignite quickly and could start a flash fire.
- Always keep candles a fair distance away from curtains and drapery, as well as the reach of children.
Festive foliage
Selecting a Christmas tree or decorating your house with festive plant life adds to the charm of a holiday home — but make sure none of these decorations are cause for alarm.
- Always select fresh trees. The pine needles should bend in between your fingers without snapping off. Old trees are more flammable.
- Check the water levels of plants daily to assure that they aren’t slowly becoming tinder.
- Keep live plants away from open flames, like fireplaces and candles.
Fireworks safety
While fireworks are an important part of many New Year’s celebrations, take caution:
- check local laws regarding fireworks use and follow all regulations. As always, better safe than sorry — there are sure to be local displays to take the family to.
- Keep fireworks out of the reach of unsupervised children; only properly educated and equipped people should be operating this equipment.
- Never relight a firework that fails to explode.
Other things to remember
- Do not overload electrical outlets with too many switches from too many sources. Use sparingly and across the household to avoid overloading the circuits.
- Don’t use electric lights on metallic trees; this will overheat the tree.
- Make sure holiday guests smoke responsibly and in an appropriate location — suggest they dampen their cigarette butts before throwing them in the trash.
By following these tips, you allow yourself to enjoy this time of great celebration with your family, and handle all of the responsibilities that come with the season without the added worry of a home fire.
Superior Insurance and Auto Tags is dedicated to helping your entire family by ensuring you know what is best for you and your home. Set up a consultation with us today to learn more about our exceptional service offerings, or call us with remaining questions about fire-proofing your home to avoid the hassle of claims.