Keep Your Holidays from going up in Flames

The holiday season should be a time for family festivities and good cheer, but unfortunately, the holiday season is a time when there is an increased risk of home fires. Holiday activities that are some of the leading causes of home fires in the United States are cooking, Christmas trees, candles and decorations. Fortunately, by taking some preventive steps and following simple rules, most home fires can be prevented. With unattended cooking as the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States, the Columbia Fire Department urges you to stay in the kitchen while you’re cooking, baking, frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stove top, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you’re simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking and never cook when you’re sleepy or while taking medicine that makes you drowsy. The Columbia Fire Department also suggests creating a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried. Candles are widely used in homes throughout the holidays, and December is the peak month for home candle fires. The non-profit National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) statistics show that two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles. Residents are encouraged to consider using flameless candles. However, if you do use traditional candles, keep them at least 12” away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom where more than one-third of United States candle fires begin or other areas where people may fall asleep. Lastly, never leave a child or pet alone in a room with a burning candle. According to NFPA, U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 200 home structure fires between 2011-2015, involving Christmas trees. Forty percent of those fires were due to electrical malfunctions and 26% were a result of a heat source that was too close to the tree. The Columbia Fire Department offers the following advice for picking, placing and lighting the tree: If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant. If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk. Add and maintain at least 2” of water to the tree above the stem daily. Make sure the supporting device is strong enough to support the tree to prevent tipping. Refrain from overloading an outlet with excessive decorations using multi-plugs and cube adapters. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights. Use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed. After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.