Christmas is the season for celebrations and good cheer, but it’s also the season to be on the lookout for holiday fire hazards.
In recent years, the National Fire Protection Association reports, one in every 32 fires that started with a Christmas tree led to a fatality. Here are some ways you can prevent a fire and practice holiday safety this season.
1. Fireplaces and other heating sources.
When the weather is cold outside, we tend to turn up the heat. What’s cozier for Christmas than a nice fire in the fireplace? But always be sure to use a fire screen, and open the damper before you light the fire. Maintain a distance of 3 feet between any object that could ignite and the fire source.
2. Kitchen fires.
If you’re the cook for the holiday dinner, you know how hectic things can get as you juggle preparing multiple dishes for the feast. A kitchen fire is most likely to break out when the cook leaves the cooking unattended. Best holiday safety rule: stay with your baking, broiling, boiling or frying until it’s done.
3. Over working outlets.
Some houses just don’t have enough outlets for all the lights and other electrical gadgets that need plugging in for Christmas. Shorts or arc faults cause about half of all residential fires, but can be prevented by installing an arc-fault circuit interrupter outlet to detect and shut down arcing circuits.
If you use string light, keep the outlet’s load under 15 amps (look at the box for the count per string). Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, replacing broken or worn strings or those with loose bulb connections. Unplug lights before leaving the home or going to bed for additional holiday safety.
4. Candles.
Lit candles lend a beautiful ambiance to the holiday setting, but cause many holiday fires. Observe holiday safety, and never use them on the Christmas tree. Set them in a candle holder at least 3 feet from anything that can easily ignite.
To check your system this season, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning of Lorain.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area