Fire Safety During the Christmas Season

It's that time of year again!  For many of us the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are when we transform our homes into a holiday wonderland full of decorations and joy for the holiday season.  For some it's a simple Christmas tree or maybe a few candles, while others will attempt to have the highest power bill in town in the hopes that their light display is visible from space.  What no one wants to experience this time of year is a devastating fire that was caused by they very things that you put up in your home to brighten your home during the holiday season.  Let's talk about a few of the typical causes of fires during the holiday months and what you can do to prevent them.

Lights and Electrical  

•  Inspect your lights before you put them up.  Check for frayed wires, bare spots in the insulation, or any broken parts.  If you find a problem dispose of the lights and replace them.
• Avoid overloading your circuits!  Do not link more than three strands of lights together, and do not plug multiple adapters into each other.  Use one power strip per plug in and avoid the use of the massive amount of adapters plugged into each other.
• Always unplug your lights when you leave the home or before you go to bed. 

 Candles

• Use electric flame-less candles instead of the traditional wax and wick candles.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Make sure your candles are placed on a stable surface or base and are in a position where they can't be easily tipped over by children or pets.  
• Keep candles at least 18 inches away from things that can burn, including other decorations like wreaths or trees.  

Trees

• Make a fresh cut at least one inch above the butt end of your tree before you place it into the home.
• Keep your tree stand full of water, and avoid putting it near heating vents that can accelerate the drying process.  This amazing video shows the dangers of a dry Christmas tree inside the home. 

  

Don't forget the basics!

• Make sure your home is protected with working smoke alarms, that are also less then 10 years old, on every level of the home.  
• Plan and practice a family fire escape drill so that everyone knows what to do if a fire does break out in your home.