Holiday Fire Prevention Safety Tips for 2023

Fire Restoration

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the iconic symbols associated with seasonal traditions like Christmas trees, holiday cookies, twinkling lights and lighted decorations, set the stage for Santa’s arrival. What is not expected is a house fire accident during the holidays. According to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for home fires.

 Ensure a safe and secure holiday season for your family by following these holiday safety tips to ensure your celebrations and your holiday spirit are not impacted by a house fire during the holiday season.

Holiday Fire Prevention Tips to Follow:

Christmas Trees

• Opt for a flame-resistant, artificial Christmas tree with a “fire-retardant” label. If choosing a real tree, select a fresh one with green needles and water it daily for increased fire resistance.
• Keep the tree at least three feet away from heat sources, such as radiators and candles, to prevent decoration-related fires.
• Avoid blocking doorways with the tree, and never burn real Christmas trees in fireplaces or wood-burning stoves.
• Learn more Christmas tree safety tips.

Holiday decorations

• Use flame-resistant or flame-retardant decorations
• Opt for battery-operated candles to reduce fire risks.
• If using lighted candles, ensure they are in secure holders and placed at least one foot away from combustibles. Never place them in the Christmas tree.
• Check The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for the most recent holiday season recalls. According to NFPA’s Applied Research stats that U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees.

Holiday Lights

• Inspect lights for damage before use, discarding sets with frayed wiring or broken parts. – Use extension cords carefully, avoiding overloading them to prevent overheating. Consider plugging indoor lights into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for added safety.
• Secure outdoor lights with roof clips or insulated staples to prevent wind damage.
• Use extension cords carefully, preferably plugging them into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for extra safety.
• Never plug more than three sets of lights into one extension cord to prevent the cord from overheating.

Other Holiday Safety Tips

• Establish a fire escape plan, sharing it with house guests and inquiring about it when staying overnight elsewhere.
• Avoid unattended cooking, and set cooking timers to ensure the grub is not forgotten
• Have fireplaces and chimneys inspected, and use protective screens.
• Encourage smokers to smoke outside, provide large ashtrays, and keep smoking materials away from children and flammable materials
• Have a fire extinguisher for all types of fires on every home level.

For Fire Damage Restoration in New Hampshire and Maine, Call PuroClean’s Remediation Experts

Enjoy a disaster-free holiday season with these safety measures. In case of fire damage, contact PuroClean’s restoration experts for prompt and professional services. We cover residential and commercial losses. Our fire restoration technicians are prepared to deal with smoke cleanup and fire damage repairs of any size. Contact (603) 664-3727 today!