Avoiding a Home Fire Before the Holidays in Hunterdon County

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the majority of house fires occur during the holidays. Their report indicates that nearly 170 house fires occur each year due to Christmas trees. The second most common cause of house fires during the holidays is electrical equipment, which accounts for 43 percent of holiday house fires.

In most cases, fires are preventable. If homeowners take proactive steps now, the risk of a house is reduced.

During the holiday season, most families want to decorate the whole house, cook huge meals, and sit around a fireplace sharing stories and memories. Unfortunately, most house fires will start around this time. Here are a few fire safety tips for the holidays.

• Candles – If there are lit candles in the home, they should be kept far away from any flammable objects, such as curtains, table cloths, garland, or wrapping paper. Before leaving the room, extinguish any lit candles.
• Cooking Distractions – Cooking is one of the top causes of house fires. Nearly 60 percentof all house fires occur in the kitchen while someone is cooking. The key is to avoid distractions while cooking, carry an oven mitt at all times, and keep children away from the cooking area.
• Christmas Trees – As mentioned previously, there are nearly 170 house fires caused by Christmas trees each year. With a real tree, the key is to keep it moist. A dry tree is a fire hazard. With a fake tree, it’s important to read the label; the tree should be fire resistant.
• Fire Extinguishers – There should be conveniently located fire extinguishers throughout your house. One should definitely be in the kitchen at all times and tested annually. Keep another near a fireplace or in the garage.
• Space Heaters – If you have a space heater, use it sparingly and carefully. Like a lit candle, an active space heater should not be kept near any flammable objects, including clothing, curtains, or a tree.

Many of the fatalities caused by house fires are due to children playing with matches or the fireplace. According to the USFA , around 13 percent of fire deaths are caused by children toying with fire. We often underestimate just how powerful a lit match can be at times. An entire house can succumb to fire in a matter of minutes due to a single match.

It’s important to keep track of children, their whereabouts, and what they play with. Keep matches, fire starters, or lighters out of reach.

After a severe house fire, call Restoration 1 of Hunterdon County. We provide 24-hour fire and smoke damage restoration services for homeowners, businesses, and local industry. Give us a call at 908-292-3209 !

Jovanny Galarza is the owner of Restoration 1 of Hunterdon County, an IICRC-certified company. Jovanny has years of experience and is proud to have put together a team that works together to reach goals and serve clients with five-star satisfaction.