The winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. It’s fun to decorate for the winter holidays and cook special meals, but holiday decorations and cooking can increase your risk of a home fire. Be fire smart as you deck the halls this season or fix a festive meal.
Be careful with your holiday decorations.
Make sure they don’t block windows and doors. Additionally, following a few simple tips can help make your holidays fire-safe.
Water your live Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Trees too close to a heat source cause one in every four winter fires.
Make sure you are using the right lights. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
Keep lit candles away from decorations and things that can burn. More than 1/3 of home decoration fires are started by candles. Consider using flameless candles, they look very similar and are safer.
Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations when leaving the room or going to bed.
From frying a turkey to making pies, be sure to follow these tips to prevent cooking fires.
Stand by your pan – turn the burner off if you leave your kitchen.
Watch what you’re cooking. If you see any smoke or grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent them from being bumped or pulled over.
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