Holiday Fire Safety Tips

12/23/2024 (Permalink)

kitchen fire damage

The holiday season is the best time of the year to spend quality time with family and friends to enjoy fun festive traditions and take a break from the hustle of day-to-day Silver Lake/Echo Park life.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these decorations may increase chances of a fire.

Key Fire Insights:

According to the American Red Cross, nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holiday season, causing significant property damage, injuries, and fatalities; with candles being a major contributing factor to these fires.

As you prepare to share holiday cheer, at SERVPRO of Silver Lake/Echo Park our goal as the #1 choice in residential and commercial fire cleanup, is to equip you with a top 5 fire prevention list to help you enjoy the holidays fire-free.

By taking the noted precautions you will limit your fire exposure. In case of an emergency our trained team of IICRC Certified Fire Restoration Technicians are here 24.7 to help in an emergency. Remember that your first phone call should always be to 911 if you experience a fire emergency.

Top 5 Fire Safety Tips: 

1 - Christmas Tree Safety:

• Water Your Tree: Keep your live Christmas tree well-watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Placement: Place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, or heat vents.
• Lights: Use only UL-listed lights and check them for frayed wires or broken bulbs before using.
• Extinguish: Turn off all lights and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

2 - Candle Safety:

• Placement: Keep candles away from any flammable materials like curtains, paper, or decorations.
• Supervision: Never leave burning candles unattended.

3 - Kitchen Safety:

• Never Leave Cooking Unattended: Keep a close eye on food, especially when frying or broiling.
• Keep Kids and Pets Away: Establish a safety zone around the cooking area.
• Avoid Distractions: Don't answer calls or texts while cooking.
• Wear Tight-Fitting Clothing: Loose clothing can catch fire.
• Grease Fires: If a grease fire starts, smother it with a lid or use a fire extinguisher. Never use water on a grease fire.

4 - Heating Safety:

• Space Heaters: Place space heaters on a hard, nonflammable surface and keep them away from flammable materials.
• Chimney Safety: Ensure your chimney is clean. Consider having a chimney inspection.

5 - General Safety Tips:

• Smoke Alarms: Make sure your smoke alarms are working properly.
• Fire Extinguishers: Have a fire extinguisher available and practice how to use it.
• Escape Plan: Develop a fire escape plan with your family and practice it.
• Decorate Safely: Keep all decorations away from any heat sources and electrical outlets.

Now is also a good time to confirm your insurance policy includes fire hazard to help you recover if you have fire damage.

Download Fire Fact Sheet here.

If you have any additional questions, please contact SERVPRO Silver Lake, Echo Park. We wish you a safe and happy fire free holiday season.