5 Holiday Decorating Safety Tips To Prevent a House Fire
According to The National Fire Protection Association, there are an average of 346,800 house fires every year in the United States.
The frequency of house fires tends to increase around the holidays as homeowners pull seasonal decorations out of storage and place them around their homes.
With the holiday season right around the corner, here are 5 safety tips that can help you prevent a house fire as you decorate your home.
1. Carefully consider the placement of your Christmas tree
Fires caused by Christmas trees are responsible for $10 million in damages annually. The most common reasons Christmas trees caught on fire were electrical distribution or lighting equipment (45%) and a heat source, such as a candle or fireplace, located too close to the tree (22%).
To ensure safety, when deciding where to place your tree, make sure it’s a sufficient distance from any source of heat. Then, after decorating your Christmas tree, remember to double-check for loose or damaged wires.
2. Follow candle safety measures
Speaking of candles, they cause a lot more to catch on fires than just trees. The USFA estimates that candles are responsible for approximately 10,000 residential fires each year, along with $120 million in property loss.
Further, there are three times as many fires caused by candles in the month of December as there are in any other month!
Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving with a sweet cinnamon-pumpkin scented candle, or you’re celebrating Christmas with a peppermint smell, it’s important that you give your candle adequate space from other decorations. It’s recommended that you leave a minimum of 3 inches of space between each candle.
Other candle safety measures include keeping flames away from furniture, drapes, decorations, and bedding; and always blowing out your candles before leaving the house or going to bed.
3. Be cautious when cooking
According to the United States Fire Administration, an estimated 2,400 residential building fires are reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day. Unsurprisingly, there are more kitchen fires on Thanksgiving day than on any other day of the year.
Stay safe this Thanksgiving by staying near your pots and pans while the stovetop is turned on. Don’t leave the kitchen unattended, and if you’re going to use a turkey fryer, use it outdoors.
4. Examine your outdoor lights before hanging them up
Holiday lights are a way to come together as a neighborhood and celebrate the season. People love loading up the house with lights. It’s fun and festive, but you should know holiday lights cause 770 fires every year.
To avoid starting a fire from your holiday lights, follow these guidelines. First, if you’re purchasing new lights, buy flame-resistant lights.
Second, before hanging them up, check if they’re indoor lights or outdoor lights. Outdoor lights are built to withstand the elements better. Third, never use nails to hang up lights – clips are much safer.
Last, turn off the lights before you leave the house or go to bed.
5. Keep a fire extinguisher handy
A fire extinguisher can be the difference between needing a new home and containing a fire in a small area of an individual room. When used shortly after a fire has been ignited, portable fire extinguishers can successfully put out 95% of fires.
Despite this, 1 out of every 4 Americans does not have a fire extinguisher in their home. By acquiring a fire extinguisher and keeping it in an accessible location, you’ll greatly reduce potential damages.
It’s also best to make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are operational and up-to-date.
In The Event Of A Fire, Cleveland Public Adjusters Can Help
The last thing you want to do after experiencing a house fire is deal with insurance. In many cases, the insurance process can drag on and add unnecessary stress to the situation.
To avoid dealing with insurance companies, victims of house fires often hire public adjusters.
There are many ways public adjusters can help after a house fire.
In addition to reducing stress, public adjusters can negotiate a higher dollar value for claims and expedite the claims process.
Historically, policyholders that have hired Cleveland Public Adjusters have experienced impressive results.
“If you suffer a loss and need an advocate to represent you, this is the company you want. Integrity, honesty, and heartfelt care in every aspect. They will not let you down.”
-Sharon Underwood, Homeowner in Cleveland
To learn more about how we can help, get in touch with us today!