Thumbnail image by Pawel Grzegorz from Pixabay
“Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane.
Bells are ringing, children singing, all is merry and bright.
Rudolph says, don’t burn your house down tonight!”
The holidays are here, and holiday house fires are a looming threat.
Fires need three things: kindling, a heat source and oxygen.
Christmas trees cause over 43% of the fires in December, and more Americans are killed each year in house fires than all natural disasters combined.
Here are some things we can do to make sure this does not happen to us:
- Smoke detectors: Have at least one smoke detector on every floor of your home.
- Christmas Trees: Fresh is best. When selecting a tree, the needles should be green and not break when pressed between your thumb and forefinger. The trunk of freshly cut trees should be sticky when you touch it. Do not put the tree too close to a heat source. It can dry the tree out. Keep the tree stand filled with water.
- Home heating: Heating fires are the second leading cause of home fires. Fixed and portable space heaters, including wood stoves, are reported in 74% of fire-related deaths. Place anything that can burn three feet away from heating equipment.
- Candles, Menorah or Kinara: Are yours electric? If using traditional candles, place the holder on non-flammable surfaces to catch the melting wax. Follow the three-foot rule, and never leave burning candles unattended. Remember to extinguish them when going to bed or leaving the house.
- Electrical: Do you have cords beneath furniture, rugs or carpeting? Furniture sitting on electrical cords can cause damage, causing shock and fire hazards. Remember, kindling, a heat source, and oxygen. Do not string together more than three sets of lights or plug more than three into an extension cord. Electrical cords should not be warm to the touch.
- Cooking: Placing dish towels or potholders on the range may cause fires or burns. Place combustible and flammable items away from the stove and oven. Have at a minimum an ABC Fire Extinguisher on hand in the kitchen.
Daniel has created a free eBook that reveals the exact steps to make your home fire-safe for the holidays, and he would like you to have it.
Scan the QR code below with your smartphone camera, or go to https://bit.ly/firesafetyholidays and get your free copy today.
Happy Holidays!
Daniel can be reached at: daniel@emergencyactionplanning.com
