How to Prevent the Most Common House Fires This Christmas Season
Holidays can be a major source of fire hazard. According to the Federal Emergency Management Administration , 156,000 fires occur in the United States during the holiday season. Increased load on household appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and open flames indoors can lead to a fire in the house. Here’s how to prevent the most common causes of country house fires and celebrate safely this season.
Check your cords
Damaged light cords or damaged extension cords for decorations, electric blankets and other appliances can pose a fire hazard. An electrical fault or short circuit occurs when electricity flows unplanned through wiring or other conductive material. Inspecting all your lights and decorations, as well as extension cords and strips, for exposed wires, discoloration or other damage before using them this holiday season can prevent fires as well as accidental electric shocks. If you find exposed wires or heat damage, disable the appropriate component to reduce the risk of fire.
Avoid overloading your circuits
Overloaded household networks can cause a short circuit, which will lead to a fire. You can minimize the risk of an electrical fire by reading the manufacturer’s instructions for your Christmas lights to determine how many can be safely plugged into one outlet. In addition to determining how many light strands you can connect to a single outlet, take a look at the circuit diagram inside the circuit breaker box to determine which outlets are connected to the same circuit. Once you see which outlets are connected to the same circuit, you can avoid connecting too many lights or appliances to that circuit, even if the outlets are separate, by calculating the total number of amps you get from each device connected to the circuit. circuit and make sure it does not exceed its capacity. Although most modern electrical wiring has circuit breakers designed to prevent circuit overload, it is still a good idea to try to stay within the recommended wattage ratings of your circuits.
Take care of the candles
Candle flames are a common cause of house fires during the holidays, especially when children and pets are around. Keeping candles out of the reach of children and keeping the flame at least a foot away from flammable items is a good start to preventing fires. Additionally, using a candle holder such as a lantern shaped candle holder or a candle holder with sides called a chimney holder or a hurricane candle holder will add a layer of protection. If you have real candles that you prefer to light instead of their LED counterparts , a good safety precaution is to install a cage or glass around the candle.
Containing sparks from fireplaces
Stray sparks from a fireplace can start a fire long after you notice the fire itself. Embers dropped on rugs or furniture can burrow into the material and burn for up to 12 hours, even after the main fire has been extinguished. While you’re most likely watching a fire in a fireplace or wood stove, the area around it also needs to be protected. A fire-resistant fireplace mat will help protect the floor around the fireplace. Using a fireplace screen is another good way to keep embers from finding your home.
Prevent fire when cooking
Cooking fires are also very common during the holidays. Increased use of ovens and stovetops, as well as less experienced cooks doing holiday baking, can lead to an increased risk of fire. Some smart ways to keep your kitchen safe during the holidays include keeping countertops near the stove clear of clutter, especially cooking oil and paper packaging, which can quickly spark a kitchen fire. Set timers to check your cooking frequently. Also, before you start cooking, making sure your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order will help you avoid a disaster.
Keep Christmas trees away from heat sources
Keeping trees and wreaths away from heat sources is an important step in ensuring fire safety for the holidays. Since your tree, like your wreaths, are simply large dead branches that dry out slowly over time, they can be extremely flammable. In addition to the risk of fire due to damaged string lights, trees can also catch fire if they are too close to a space heater or electric heater with coils inside. Placing trees and wreaths at least a foot away from heaters is a good way to prevent fires.
What to do if you smell smoke
If you smell smoke, try to determine its source as quickly as possible. Electrical fires usually smell like burning plastic or have a pungent fishy odor. If you smell this odor and cannot find its source, turn off the breaker and call the fire department. If you smell smoke that sounds more like burning rubber or foam, it could be embers from the fireplace that have fallen onto the carpet or some furniture. Inspect the fireplace to find the source of the problem. If you smell smoke that sounds like burning hair, check your pets: Pets can sometimes smell or brush against candles. Keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case.