Fire Safety Tips for Wintertime

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

Make sure your fire risk is low during the holidays. If you experience any damage, SERVPRO of Pascagoula will be here to help.

The holidays will be here before we know it, and as we prepare with recipes and shopping for gifts, it is also vital to make sure we are remembering preparedness for house fires. The Red Cross has found that winter is the top time for house fires, and many of our favorite winter activities give fires ample opportunity to occur.

As you go about our holiday season preparations, be sure that fire safety remains top of mind. Cooking, heating and decorating are all associated with this time of year, but they also give fires plenty of opportunities to spark.

Practicing Fire Safety This Holiday Season

Keep safe when cooking. Cooking is consistently one of the top causes of fires in the home, and because more people tend to cook large meals and participate in holiday baking, these types of fires often increase during the winter. Every time you cook, be certain to keep flammable objects away from the stove, make sure a fire extinguisher is handy and keep at least three feet around the stove clear of all other people, children and pets.

Heat the house with proper precautions. Many people make use of space heaters and fireplaces to supplement their home’s heating system, but it is important that you always use these tools with caution. Space heaters should always cut off if they get too hot or tip over, and should never be used on carpet or near flammable items. If you use a fireplace, be sure to get your chimney inspected every year and never allow a fire to burn unattended.

Decorate with care. Winter lights, Christmas trees and other decorations are fun, but they do present an electrical hazard for homes. Around 25% of Christmas tree fires are a result of electrical issues, which can arise from overloading outlets and power strips, using decorations with frayed wires or not unplugging everything before leaving or going to bed.

If you have damage due to a house fire, you can depend on us to help. Contact us 24 hours a day to report damage and receive a quick response from our certified restoration technicians. Get in touch today.