December 26, 2023
Taking steps to keep your home safe from fire hazards is important at any time of year, but extra precautions should be taken during the winter months. Half of all heating fires occur in December, January, and February. And the holidays, with decorations and busy kitchens, create even more risks around the house.
Here are some of the most common winter fire hazards found in homes, as well as some advice on how to keep your home safe.
Fireplaces and wood, pellet, or coal stoves make for a cozy, warm home during the cold winter months, but they also can be dangerous if they’re not managed properly. If you have a fireplace or stove in your home, be sure to take these safety precautions every time they’re used:
• Make sure they have clean chimneys before firing them up for the season. Over time, burning wood can produce a buildup of flammable creosote on the inside of the chimney flue.
• Be sure the damper is open before you light a fire. Don’t close the damper until the fire has died out and the embers are cold.
• Burn only the proper material in your fireplace and/or stove.
• For a fireplace, use a screen to prevent sparks and embers from flying out. For a stove, keep the door closed and use a fire screen.
• Don’t keep ashes indoors. Store cooled ashes outside in a tightly covered metal container at least 10 feet from any building.
Portable electric space heaters are a convenient way to heat the room you’re in, but they can pose a serious safety risk if they’re not operated correctly.
• Only use heaters that have been certified by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Don’t use a heater if its plug or cord is in bad shape.
• Plug heaters directly into an outlet — not into an extension cord or power strip.
• Only use heaters for supplemental heat. Don’t use them to dry clothes, cook food, heat up bedding, or thaw pipes.
• Put heaters on flat, level, uncarpeted surfaces where no one is likely to trip over them.
• Keep heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable.
• Unplug heaters when you’re not using them.
They may make your home merry and bright, but Christmas trees can be a fire hazard. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to keep your home safe throughout the holiday season:
• Make sure the tree doesn’t block any exits and isn’t close to a heat source, such as a vent or radiator.
• Use a stand that can hold it securely and keep it watered for at least two days.
• Never use decorations that are flammable.
• Make sure the lights you put on your tree have been certified by a recognized testing laboratory and don’t have frayed cords, bare wires, or other signs of wear.
• Avoid connecting more than three strands of lights or LED and non-LED light strands.
• Don’t put the cords to the lights under rugs or carpeting.
• Be careful not to overload extension cords or outlets.
• Turn off the lights before going out, going to bed, or leaving your home.
The best way to reduce the fire risk posed by candles is to use flameless ones instead, but if you prefer traditional candles:
• Don’t use them for emergency lighting in a power outage. Use a flashlight instead.
• Follow the manufacturers’ recommendations for burn time and proper use, as well as any warning labels for them.
• Trim wicks to ¼ inch before you light it.
• Use sturdy candleholders that won’t tip over.
• Put candles in well-ventilated rooms, away from flammable objects and drafts, vents, or air currents; out of the reach of children and pets; and at least three inches away from other candles.
• Never leave candles unattended.
The holidays and playoff football weekends mean more cooking for many households. To prevent a kitchen fire, you should:
• Have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
• Keep flammable items, such as oven mitts, dish towels, and food packages, away from cooking surfaces. Also don’t wear loose clothing that could catch fire on burners.
• Have someone in, or able to see into, the kitchen while food is cooking on the stove. If you have food in the oven, check on it frequently.
• If something cooking on the stove catches fire, slide a tight-fitting lid onto the pan it’s in and turn off the burner.
And perhaps most importantly, you should make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are properly installed and working, and that you have a fire escape plan for your house.
Safeguarding your home from fire risks may be a year-round responsibility, but the winter months require extra attention due to heating and holiday-related hazards. By following the simple safety measures outlined above, you can enjoy a warm, festive, and safe winter season.
