Holiday Fire Prevention Tips

11/19/2019 (Permalink)

Candles are often part of the holiday tradition, but they are a potential fire risk!

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays are right around the corner. While it’s a great season to spend with friends and family, it’s also a time where most house fires occur. We’ve seen first-hand how a fire can unexpectedly upend people’s lives, which is why we’re sharing a few tips to prevent a holiday fire disaster!

1. Don’t leave the kitchen unattended while cooking. Cooking is a popular pastime during the holiday season, but it’s also one the largest causes of home fires in the U.S. Whenever you cook, don’t leave the kitchen attended while it’s still in use—not even for a second. Fires can occur quickly and without warning!

2. Keep your heating equipment away from flammable equipment. When it’s cold outside, we go inside and heat up. But space heaters and fire places can pose a fire hazard if precautions aren’t taken. When you decide to keep warm, keep heating equipment at least 3 feet away from flammable objects.

3. Be careful with candles. Candles account for more than half of home fires in the month of December. Although they are popular (and often part of culture and tradition), they can put your home at risk if they aren’t properly handled. Keep them away from children, don’t leave them unattended, and keep them away from flammable objects.

The holidays should be a time for celebration and camaraderie, but a house fire can ruin all of that. This holiday season, we hope you’ll practice fire safety and have a disaster-free time. If you do have a fire, though, know that our team at SERVPRO of Alexander & Caldwell Counties is available 24/7, even during the holidays!