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December is a month full of festivities, holiday parties and family get-togethers. Unfortunately, it is also a month when firefighters are especially busy, with December 24th and 25th topping the list of busiest days of the year for home fires. Did you know that according to a study done by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) every year there are almost 250 home fires that begin with Christmas trees, plus holiday lighting accounts for an additional 150 fires. This year, play it safe with these holiday fire safety tips.
1) You can skip this one if you have a fake tree because first and foremost, water your live Christmas tree! Dry trees are the number one cause of fires during the holiday season so be sure to water them daily and don't place them near a heat source.
2) Use candles with caution. Nothing creates a festive mood quite like candles, that's why it's a good thing someone invented the flameless variety.
3) Check your smoke detectors. Ensure that your smoke detectors have new batteries and are functioning properly. It may be slightly annoying if it goes off while cooking dinner, but you'll be thankful if there's a real fire emergency.
4) Stockings should be 'hung by the chimney with care.' Not only is it a Christmas story, it's also a fire safety tip. You shouldn't hang them decoratively on the mantle if you plan on having a roaring fire. Your electric fireplace may not seem that hot to you, but hang a stocking a few inches above it and you might hear that smoke alarm while your poor stocking goes up in flames.
5) Don't overload electrical circuits when plugging in festive decorations as electrical fires are neither festive nor fun. Purchase the appropriate powerbar for your decorations and their electrical needs.
6) Unplug. The holidays are a time for us to relax, unwind and 'unplug' ourselves from work. Using that same analogy, remember to unplug your Christmas tree and all of your indoor festive decorations before leaving the house or going to bed at night.
7) Practice Kitchen Safety. When baking goodies or cooking a big family dinner, be sure to set a timer. There are many distractions over the holidays, especially when entertaining friends and relatives, so make it a point not to leave any cooking unattended. In the case of a small kitchen fire, don't immediately turn on the overhead fan, as this could spread the fire and never put water on a grease fire.
8) Finally, practice your home fire safety and escape plan. Make sure everyone knows what to do, where to go and who to call in the event of an emergency. Have a predetermined family meeting spot, preferably somewhere warm this time of year.
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