Tis the season for festive celebrations, holiday greens and loads of pretty lights! And while we love all these things, they do present fire risks that can turn the holiday season into a devastating one. Christmas trees account for approximately 200 home fires each year, while US fire departments respond to about 840 home fire situations each year due to holiday decorations (unrelated to Christmas trees). About 300 of those holiday decoration fires can be attributed to candles. Despite the risks there are several ways to make your holidays safer this year!
If you’re celebrating Hanukkah this year, these tips will lessen the risk of fire in your home:
Place your menorah in a more secluded area of the home to keep it out of the flow of daily traffic and lessen the risk of it accidentally being knocked over.
Make sure you place your menorah on a stable, non-flammable surface.
Be sure your menorah is out of reach of children and pets (especially if you have cats who like to climb on things!).
Any decorations you might place around your menorah should be non-flammable (or at least far enough away that they won’t catch fire) and should be light enough they don’t risk tipping over it over.
Finally, never leave a menorah unattended.
If you’re celebrating Christmas this year, use these tips to increase safety:
When it comes to live Christmas trees, choose one that has fresh green needles that don’t fall off when touched. Before placing it in the stand, cut at least 2 inches off the trunk to increase water uptake. Make sure your tree is watered often and make sure it’s at least 3 feet away from any heat sources! Only use decorative lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory and be sure to turn all lights on the tree off when you leave home or when going to bed. Once the holidays are over, get rid of your tree promptly.
When it comes to holiday decorations choose decorations that are flame retardent or resistant. Check light strands for an indoor/outdoor rating, check that all bulbs work properly and make sure cords aren’t frayed or broken.
Never overload circuits!
When it comes to extension cords use heavy duty quality cords and never run them under rugs or in areas that pose a tripping hazard.
Finally, when it comes to candles always make sure they’re out of reach of children and pets as well as placed on sturdy surfaces or in sturdy holders. Keep anything flammable (like holiday greenery or tinsel) at least 3 feet away from any flames. And ALWAYS blow out candles before leaving home or going to bed!
We at Dryer Vent Wizards wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season!
We're the experts for professional Northern NJ Dryer Vent Cleaning & repair! Give us a call at 201-345-0055 so Northern NJ Dryer Vent Wizard can help you save energy, time, and money. Some of the towns we service include: Bergen County, NJ Essex County, NJ Passaic County, NJ Morris County, NJ Ramsey, NJ and the surrounding NY Metro areas!
