Huntington! Put a freeze on winter holiday fires!

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

With a few handy tips, you can keep your tree and your home safe from fires this holiday season!

The holidays are a time of family, good friends, and great food, but they can also create a risk for house fires.  Although Christmas tree fires are rare, they are dangerous.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, US firefighters responded to an average of 200 house fires between 2011 and 2015 caused by Christmas trees, resulting in six deaths and $14.8 million in property damage. Candles can also be a cause for concern: the top three days for candles causing house fires are Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.  

Here are some ways to stay safe this holiday season:

• Make sure your Christmas tree is at least three feet away from any heat source.
• If you have a real tree, water it every day to make sure it doesn't dry out.
• Connect no more than three strands of lights together.
• Replace any burnt out or non-working bulbs.
• Keep candles 12 inches away from anything flammable.
• Keep any flammable decorations away from your stove and oven
• Make sure any electronic decorations have cords that are not frayed or damaged.
• Get rid of your tree promptly so it doesn't dry out and risk catching fire