EMERGENCY ACTION PLANNING > Blog > Manmade Disaster > Why Holiday Fires Should Be 1 of the 7 Deadly Sins
Why Holiday Fires Should Be 1 of the 7 Deadly Sins
Holiday Fire Safety Tips
I remember growing up as a child, the lights, candles, fireplaces and smells of baking Pumpkin Pie seemed to transform the time into something mystical. The sights, sounds, and smells swaddled me in a comfortable cocoon of contentment. Believe it or not, I still react in the same way today.
And now, I am aware that the holiday season is one of the most dangerous times of the year for household fires.
Household fires are the number one preventable disaster we face.
I do not need to research the travesty and devastation that will come from a home fire. I burnt my own home down. It was actually a trailer. Many years ago, while in the Military my wife and I lived in a small two-bedroom trailer with our dog Sandy. One winter afternoon in my haste to get back to work I places an empty box up against the wall next to an electric heater. Needless to say, the trailer burnt down, the dog died and we ended up getting divorced. If I hadn’t been so stupid the trailer would have still been there that day after work and Sandy would have probable lived a long life.
Simple Fire Safety Tips:
Install a smoke alarm on every floor of your home, even the basement.
Install a smoke alarm outside every sleeping area. Ideally, install smoke alarms in every sleeping area, too.
Change the batteries at least once a year – maybe at Daylight Saving Time or on your birthday.
Replace smoke alarms after 10 years.
Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
Put candles in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders.
Place candles where they cannot tip over.
Never leave a lit candle unattended.
Blow out candles after use and before going to bed.
Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to keep sparks from hitting nearby carpets or furniture.
Keep kindling, paper, and decor away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
More residential fires are caused by cooking on Thanksgiving Day that from any other source.
When cooking, stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on the stove.
Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Keep towels, pot holders, curtains, and paper products away from the stove.
If you smoke, think about quitting.
Put out all cigarettes, cigars, or pipes before you leave a room or area.
Choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are made to go out if left unattended and are less likely to start a fire.
For help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).
Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious. Carefully decorating your home can help make your holidays safer.
As a general rule, firefighting should be left to the fire department.
Only adults who know how to use portable fire extinguishers should use them.
***If you do not know how to use your fire extinguisher, contact your local fire department for training.
Before trying to fight a fire, make sure that everyone is leaving the house, someone is calling 9-1-1, the extinguisher is mounted on the wall close to your way out, the fire is not bigger than a small wastepaper can and you can get out.
Inspect portable extinguishers monthly and have them serviced annually.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
As a general rule, portable fire extinguishers for the home should have a rating of at least 2-A:10-B:C.
Not all Inclusive
This list is not all inclusive. It would be quite problematic to post all possible scenarios. And I did not just make this stuff up. Most all of the information was copied from one or more of the noted websites.
It is your responsibility to do your due diligence on the subject of Holiday Fire Safety. Do not take for granted that some guy writing a Blog Post about Holiday Fire Safety knows everything. I do not.
Below are a few of links to get you started on your search for Holiday Fire Safety information.
https://www.houselogic.com/home-thoughts/holiday-fire-safety-tips/
https://www.nist.gov/fusion-search?s=christmas&commit=Search
https://www.ready.gov/holiday-toolkit
Till next time
“Be Safe”