Have a Fire-Free Holiday

Did you know that Christmas trees account for more than $13 million in property damage per year? According to the American Christmas Tree Association, it turns out that the gorgeous Douglas fir you’ve so painstakingly decorated could pose a ginormous fire risk. Throw in Hanukkah candles, unswept chimneys, ancient space heaters, and faulty strings of lights, and you’ve got a recipe for holiday disaster.

O Christmas Tree. If you can’t live without a live tree, be sure to keep it well-watered, as in do it every day. Seriously. Go do it know. We’ll wait. Keep the tree at least 3 feet away from all heat sources, turn your tree lights off at night, and toss damaged lights.  In fact, if you haven’t updated your tree lights for awhile, now would be a good time to go buy some LED’s. They use 80% to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 100,000 hours—as opposed to 3,000.

Space Heater Safety. Keep them away from anything that could go up in flames from direct contact and radiant heat, like drapes and furniture. Plug heaters into their own outlets – do not not use extension cords – and never leave one running overnight. And if you’re looking at buying a new one, look for models that have the tip-over safety switches for that extra level of security.

Candles In The Wind. Blow out all of those decorative and scented candles before bed or leaving the house. You might also think about replacing these with battery-operated versions.

Firestarter. Never use paper or flammable liquid to start a fire, and use a fireplace screen to keep embers where they belong. And of course the number one rule of fireplace safety is having it professionally cleaned at least once a year. Yes it will cost between $125 and $250, but that’s nothing compared to the cost of your home and your family’s safety.

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Photo Credit: Kim Christensen / Shutterstock.com