Holiday/Winter Fire Safety: Protecting Your Property & Family

Keep Children Supervised and Safe

Children get very excited during the holidays, and with so many adults in and out of the house during gatherings and parties, it’s possible for them to get into more mischief than they normally would. In addition, many homes have candles and other flammable decorations that are very tempting and alluring to little ones.

If you have your own children, be sure your home remains childproofed during the holidays. This might mean choosing decorations that aren’t likely to catch on fire and being particularly careful in the kitchen. Ensure nobody living in or visiting the home is leaving matches or lighters unattended. Don’t allow kids to light the fireplace or throw objects into it.

If you’re visiting others, do a quick visual sweep, and ask your host if you can move any candles that are sitting on low tables and other potential hazards. Also, make sure you or another adult are tasked with keeping a close eye on young children to keep them away from anything that might catch on fire.

Awareness During Holiday Parties

Holiday parties are a wonderful time for families and friends to come together, but they can also become a place where a house fire could start. If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, stay close to the stovetop and oven. Alternatively, you could assign someone else the task of monitoring the kitchen. It’s easy to get sidetracked and leave food in the oven or on the stovetop too long.

Encourage responsible drinking; you don’t want heavily inebriated guests in the vicinity of lit candles or firing up the woodstove. Also, if you allow smoking in your home, provide plenty of ash trays. If you don’t and guests are smoking outdoors, provide proper receptacles for disposing of cigarette butts.

Some people enjoy a fire pit during holiday gatherings. These can be a fun and cozy way to spend some time outdoors, but you do need to take precautions. First, position your fire pit away from any flammable structures and materials. Secondly, use a spark screen to keep embers from blowing upward and igniting fires.

Keep Your Chimney and Heaters Well-Maintained

It’s likely that your furnace, heaters, and fireplace will be used liberally this winter, and it’s important to ensure safe operation for these potential fire hazards. Having your furnace inspected should be done regularly; most experts, including Professional Services, recommend annual inspections. Chimneys also need to be checked and cleaned on an annual basis, preferably before their first use in the late fall or winter.

If you’re using space heaters, check the cords carefully to ensure they’re in good condition. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how much clearance to leave between the heater and the wall. Also, make sure curtains and other flammable materials are kept far away.

Check Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers

Even the most careful individuals could experience a fire. The best way to keep you and your family safe is to be prepared. Make sure there’s a working smoke detector on each floor of the home and in or near all sleeping areas. The batteries should be changed twice yearly, and each month you should test them to be sure they’re working. 

In addition, you should have at least one, but preferably two fire extinguishers on hand. Keep one in your kitchen and one in your garage or utility room. Be sure to keep an eye on the expiration date, as they do expire after several years. It’s helpful to read the instructions when you receive the extinguisher as well as yearly, so you’re familiar with what to do in case of emergency.

Conclusion

Fire safety is important all year long, especially during the winter, due to the extra fire hazards that tend to be present. Standard Restoration wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Source

• https://www.professionalservicestoday.com/how-often-to-have-furnace-checked