Fire Safety During the Winter Holidays

The holidays make us think of loved ones, feasts, sparkling lights, and aromatic evergreens. It is when families get together to celebrate and enjoy traditions.

Although the holidays can be magical, celebrations can become disasters if you are not mindful of fire safety.

• Use flame-resistant artificial trees and decorations such as paper, flowers, tinsel, streamers, and scenery.
• If you are not harvesting your live tree, only purchase live Christmas trees that are fresh and green with needles that are hard to pull from the branches. Bend the needles to check for freshness. You can also gently tap the end of the tree trunk on the ground to check whether too many needles fall. The tree should be placed in a sturdy stand and securely anchored. Check and refill the water level daily.
• Inspect strings of lights, electric candles, and similar holiday lighting equipment. Also, examine your extension cords and check for worn wiring, loose connections, and broken sockets. Only use lighting with a safety label from Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Unplug all decorative lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Keep lights at least six inches from all flammable materials, and never let light bulbs touch flammable materials.
• Do not burn trees, wreaths, or wrapping paper in the fireplace.
• Inspect and clean your chimney and fireplace annually.
• Test your smoke alarms.
• Do not link more than three strands of holiday lights.
• Keep trees and decorations away from windows, doors, high-traffic areas, fireplaces, furnace radiators, and other heat sources.
• Remember that some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Do not mix the two types when linking together.
• Make sure candles are on stable surfaces; do not burn them on or near trees or other decorations, and never leave them unattended. Keep candles, matches, and lighters out of children’s reach.
• Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
• When using a ladder to hang electric decorations, always make sure the ladder is on even and solid ground, and always keep three body parts in contact with the ladder.
• Never run electrical cords under rugs or carpeting; tape down cords to avoid trip hazards.
• If using a spray can substance, such as spray can snow, angel hair, or Styrofoam, carefully follow label directions because they can produce dangerous chemical reactions.
• In case of a fire, stay calm, call the fire department, and answer all the dispatcher’s questions. Move to a safe area away from the fire and make sure others do the same. Provide relevant information to the first firefighters on the scene. If at the workplace, inform your supervisor of your status and account for your coworkers. If at home, account for all family members and guests. Only try to put out the fire yourself after taking all the other steps and if you have been trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers. Fires that have spread cannot be extinguished with hand-held extinguishers; you need properly trained firefighters to control the fire.

With the right precautions against fire, your home can be a joyous and secure refuge during the holidays.

HEATING APPLIANCES

The expense of heating oil and natural gas, along with attempts to cut down on energy use, makes using nontraditional heating sources appealing in the winter.

Many may consider space heaters and other supplemental heating appliances a desirable choice. They can be useful with proper care and in a limited capacity but should never be considered a long-term solution. The devices are not very effective and have serious fire and other dangers associated with them, according to safety official warnings.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Space heaters have significantly more potential to start a fire than central heating, including furnaces. There is more room for human error, such as placing them near flammable materials or neglecting to properly install, fuel, operate, and maintain them.

Safety needs to be a main priority when using space heaters. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is the second most common cause of house fires, and nearly one-half of heater-caused fires happen in December, January, and February.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires are connected to space heater use annually, contributing to more than 300 fatalities. In addition, approximately 6,000 people undergo emergency room treatment for burn injuries caused by touching hot surfaces of room heaters, mainly in circumstances that do not involve fires.

Space heaters should be equipped with devices that automatically turn them off if the heater falls over. They should also have an automatic thermostat control and a device that prevents them from overheating and should be unplugged when not being used. Do not buy a heater larger than what is needed for the area to be heated.

ADVICE FROM UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES (UL)

• Place all space heaters at least 36 inches away from flammable materials or heat-producing appliances.
• Use space heaters only as a secondary heat source. These appliances are not meant to replace a home heating system.
• Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet; do not use extension cords. Do not plug space heaters into multiple outlet strips or systems furniture.
• Check the heater’s cord regularly for worn wire or damaged insulation. Do not use a space heater with a damaged cord.
• Inspect periodically to ensure the plug fits properly into the outlet. If the plug becomes overheated, the outlet may need to be replaced by a qualified electrician. This issue could indicate a possible house-wiring problem.
• Heaters should be kept on a flat, level surface away from foot traffic. Do not put heaters on furniture because they may fall and become damaged or broken.
• Unless the heater is made for outside or bathroom use, do not use in areas with water.
• Check for the UL label on your electric heater. This label indicates the device has met UL’s strict safety standards.
• If you have a space heater that uses fuel, use only what the manufacturer recommends. Improper fuel might burn too hot for the device and lead to a fire.
• When refueling, turn off the heater and allow it to cool completely before adding fuel. Immediately clear away any spills.
• Prior to purchasing a kerosene heater, consult your local fire department to ensure it is legal.